Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. This is a tremendous Mid 19th Century Scale Model of a French Napoleonic era Canon de 12 Gribeauval, one of the most used cannons of the period. Because of their physical and psychological effect, Emperor Napoleon increased the number of 12-pounders in his artillery and fondly called the cannons his belles filles (beautiful daughters). Gribeauval cannons fired canister shot for close-range work and round shot at more distant targets. This model was certainly made during the same period as the cannon would have, as the detailing is excruciatingly accurate. Even the nails which secure the bands to the wheels have the same shape and placement. This cannon was built at roughly 1:9 Scale.

The cannon barrel is cast bronze, just like a real cannon, and is still “functional” with a small touch hole at the back end for firing, although it’s certainly meant to just make a nice puff of smoke, not to launch actual projectiles with any degree of accuracy. The cannon comes complete on its gun carriage, however the pieces that would allow the cannon to be fastened to the carriage are gone, so the barrel just sits on the carriage for display. The elevation screw is still intact and allows the changing of the cannon’s angle.

The gun carriage properly attaches to the limber, which is built to the same degree of accuracy. The pintle hook still attaches well, and the pole is still intact, although there is some paint loss. There are some small pieces missing across the carriage and caisson, but since we can’t find a comparable model, we cannot confirm what exactly is present and missing.

The end of the pole retains its chains, with the rest of the chains across the carriage and caisson still in good order, with a lovely patina that really makes this set look like a genuine example which was left in the dryer too long!

With the limber connected, the entire set measures roughly 33½ x 12 x 8½”. There are several ways it could be displayed, as when the cannon is in firing position, the caisson would be disconnected. The purpose of the caisson was to carry the cannon’s ammuntion, and this caisson actually has a very small functional storage box which can be opened by moving its latch. This is a set that someone certainly spent a great deal of time perfecting.

One of the most tremendous model cannons we have ever offered, and certainly the best looking one! Comes ready for further research and display!

Canon de 12 Gribeauval

The Gribeauval system, and the Canon de 12, was first used for major operations in the American Revolutionary War, in Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau's French expeditionary corps, from 1780 to late 1782, and especially at the Siege of Yorktown in 1781. The system had been adopted by the French army on 15 October 1765 but kept secret from foreign powers and conservative officers of the French Royal Army. The system included 4-, 8- and 12-pounder field pieces, the Obusier de 6 pouces Gribeauval (6-inch howitzer), and the 1-pounder light cannon. In the event, the 1-pounder was quickly abandoned. The Canon de 12 Gribeauval was used extensively during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars.

The Gribeauval system supplanted a system established in 1732 by Florent-Jean de Vallière. The earlier system lacked a howitzer and its cannons were difficult to maneuver on the battlefield. These disadvantages became manifest during the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' War. Despite this, the army's chief artillery officer Joseph Florent Vallière rigidly opposed upgrades to his father's system. Stubborn resistance by Vallière and other reactionaries held back the full adoption of the new system until 1776. Gribeauval designed lighter gun barrels and the carriages, so that his cannons were about half the weight of the Vallière pieces. Other innovations were an elevating screw, a calibrated rear gunsight and interchangeable parts for gun carriages.

Napoleon determined to replace the 8-pounders with a larger proportion of 12-pounders. In 1803 with the Year XI system, France began to cast new 6-pounder and 12-pounder cannons and 5½-inch and 6⅓-inch howitzers. By 1809 the new system was only partly established. In 1829 France adopted the Valée system which reduced the calibers of field artillery to 8- and 12-pound cannons and 24-pound and 6-inch howitzers. All batteries were organized with four cannons and two howitzers. Mobility was increased by standardizing limber sizes so that 8-pounders and 24-pound howitzers used the smaller limber while 12-pounders and 6-inch howitzers used the larger limber. The gunners no longer had to walk beside the guns; instead they rode into action while sitting atop the limbers.

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IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to all US States and most nations around the world.

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