The Wiard gun is a semi-steel light artillery piece invented by Norman Wiard, a Canadian born individual working for the United States who invented several light field artillery pieces, one a 6 pounder rifled tube with a 2.6 inch bore, and a 12 pounder smoothbore with a 4.62 inch bore. About 60 guns were manufactured between 1862 and 1862.

Originally believed to have been made by the John O’Donnell foundry in Manhattan during the Civil War until a recent article titled, “Revealing the Makers of the Wiard Rifle” by Capt. (Ret.) Steven Knott USN in “The Artilleryman” magazine, Vol. 36, No. 3 Summer 2015, pg. 44-46, revealed otherwise. The 1861 edition of the American Annual Cyclopedia has a detailed description of Wiard’s manufacturing process and what foundries produced the Wiard gun, which is found in the article. Also in the article is a letter found in the National Archives from William L. Miller, a senior official at Carpenter and Plass to the Ordnance Bureau, dated 14^th March 1863.

Wiard’s semi-steel tubes were manufactured by the efforts of Tugnot, Dally and Company and also by Carpenter and Plass. The gun’s unique carriages were made by the John Stephenson Car Company. All three firms were located in Manhattan.

This tube is an original 6 pounder marked on top of the barrel inside a shield, “TO ARMS ^. / US / WIARD”. The right trunnion is marked “NW / NYC / OF”. The first set of initials is Norman Wiard, then New York City. The meaning of “OF” is unknown at this time. The left trunnion is marked “1862”. Right side of barrel at the trunnion marked “No. 49”; top of barrel, “723 Lbs.” The tube is in excellent condition having been housed in two National Park Service museums for about 50 years, until recently deaccessioned in 2011. The history will be passed on to the buyer. Recently repainted and restored, this tube is in museum quality condition.

The carriage is an exact copy of Wiard’s unique design made by Jeff Stafford of Stafford Wheel and Carriage located in Coatesville, PA.

Wiard’s design was a unique carriage for field pieces. The first unusual feature was the axle and cheek arrangement, which was designed for strength and high angle of the barrel elevation. It also permitted tighter storage and transportation - one carriage could slide beneath the next. Flat trail plate with a metal keel so the trail when fired would not recoil into soft dirt. Wiard also manufactured a device for braking the carriage without damaging the wheels.

The carriage is in mint condition having been garage kept since it was made in 2013.

Included with this gun are exact copies of Wiard’s implements, including front and rear sights, rammer and sponge poles, trail spike, prolong roped a water bucket.

A museum quality gun, seldom seen on today’s market.

Special arrangement needed to view cannon, which is off site.

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