Gun Carriage Axle

Description

The square sectioned axle-tree survives to the width of the bed. Only part of the original surface survives allowing us to get a rough cross section of c.120 by 120mm. Part of the right axle arm survives however there is no original surface, what remains is circular in section with a  diameter of c.100mm, matching up with the truck SCW37. The hole for the lynchpin is present; however it has suffered significant biological damage giving us a rough diameter of 45mm.  As with the bed [SCW1425], not much of the original surface remains except for the square profile on the left side of the axle which was protected by concretion.

The axle was shaped to fit level and into the mortises on the bed, a large nail was used to attach the axle to the bed and as seen in SCW52, this would continue up through the cheek. In addition to this, there appears to be extra nails tacking the axel to the bed which do not go all the way through, perhaps preventing any lateral movement or are later repairs.

It is likely that the rear trucks would have been smaller than the front to allow the gun to sit level on the cambered deck (Caruna, 1994).

A reconstructed gun carriage can be seen at SCW33