Artillery in Canada: 9-pounder Muzzleloading Rifle (MLR)

9-pounder Muzzleloading Rifles preserved in Canada

Vancouver, 15th Field Artillery Regiment Museum

(Maxwell J. Toms Photo)

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(Leon Jenson Photos)

9-pounder 6-cwt Land Service (L.S.) Muzzleloading Rifle, weight 5-3-27 (671 lbs), (RGF No. 450, II, 1876) on the left trunnion, blank on the right trunnion, Queen Victoria cypher,  (1837-1901), broad arrow mark, Firth Steel No. 4539 on the muzzle, mounted on an iron carriage with wood wheels.  This gun was a new design in 1874 for the Royal Horse Artillery.  It was longer than the 8-cwt gun but had the same carriage.  9-pounder 6-cwt guns were probably left behind when the British left Halifax in 1905.  9-pounder Muzzleloading Rifles in Canada are generally 8-cwt. It is on a five year loan to the 15th Field Artillery Regiment Museum & Archives in Vancouver from the RCA Museum, Shilo, Manitoba.

Designed in 1871, the 9-pounder rifled muzzle-loading (RML) gun was the standard artilleryweapon in Canada during the last quarter of the nineteenth century. It was mounted on a varietyof field and garrison (fortification) carriages, depending on the role of the unit. It was also mounted on gun sleighs for transport in the winter.The 9-pounder RML was used during the 1885 Riel rebellion. In 1885, A and B Batteries under command of LCol C.E. Montizambert, with four guns and a combined strength of 219 officersand men of the permanent force artillery, joined Major General Sir Frederick Middleton's column. B Battery, commanded by Maj G.J. Short, went with LCol William Otter's column. A Battery, with its two 9-pounders was the first of the Regiment to see action at Fish Creek, where a skirmish with a heavily defended Metis position resulted in great praise being given to gunners.

B Battery, having traded their own 9-pounders for two lighter but decrepit 7-pounders from the NWMP, met the enemy, Chief Poundmaker and his 200 man force at Cut Knife Creek. Once again the gunners fought with distinction. The North West Rebellion was quelled with A Battery participating in the final battle at Batoche. The campaign cost A and B Batteries a total of four killed and 19 wounded. Gunners’ Corpre and Beaudry of A Battery were recommended for the Victoria Cross for rescuing a wounded comrade at the battle of Batoche. (DND)The barrel was constructed from cast steel, with the breech area strengthened by shrinking a wrought iron sleeve over it. It used a three-groove rifling system, and the ammunition had studs to fit in the rifling. It could also fire case shot containing 110 musket balls with an effective range of 320 m (350 yd). (Doug Knight)

Lethbridge, 20th Independent Field Battery, RCA (Lethbridge), Lethbridge Military Museum

(Lethbridge MM Photo)

(Glen Miller Photos)

9-pounder 8-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle, weight 8-?-? (>896 lbs), replica No. 1, mounted on a wheeled carriage, inside the Vimy Ridge Armoury, 337 Stubb Ross Road.

(Glen Miller Photos)

9-pounder 8-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle, weight 8-?-? (>896 lbs), replica No. 2, mounted on a wheeled carriage, inside the Vimy Ridge Armoury, 337 Stubb Ross Road.

Battleford, Fort Battleford National Historic Site, Saskatchewan

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3192260)

9-pounder 8-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle, A Battery, RCA, 24 Apr 1885, Fish Creek, Saskatchewan, Riel Rebellion.

(Maxwell Toms Photo)

9-pounder 8-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle, weight 8-1-6 (930 lbs), (RGF No. 420, 1877) on the left trunnion, blank on the right trunnion, Queen Victoria cypher, broad arrow mark, mounted on a wood wheeled field carriage with limber.

Regina, RCMP Heritage Centre, 5907 Dewdney Avenue, Saskatchewan

(Kevin M. Klerks Photo)

9-pounder 8-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle, weight 8-1-4 (928 lbs), 1870, mounted on a field carriage with limber, on display inside the museum.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4922005)

9-pounder 8-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle, weight 8-1-0 (924 lbs), (RGF No. 252, 1870) on the left trunnion, Queen Victoria cypher, mounted on a wood wheeled field carriage, with RCMP officer on the Parade Ground, 1 June 1989.

‍Brandon, 26th Field Artillery Regiment Museum, RCA, Manitoba

(26th Field Artillery Museum Photos)

(Ted Krasicki Photo)

9-pounder 8-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle, weight 8-1-11 (935 lbs), (Reg. No. 606 I 1874) on the right trunnion, Queen Victoria cypher, mounted on a wood wheeled field carriage Reg. No. 40, RGF 1874, Issued to the Welland Field Battery in Ontario in 1893. It is on display inside the museum.

CFB Shilo, Royal Canadian Artillery Museum, Manitoba

9-pounder 6-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle, weight 5-3-27 (671 lbs), RGF unknown on left trunnion, Queen Victoria cypher, broad arrow mark, mounted on a wooden wheeled field carriage.9-pounder 6-cwt Land Service (L.S.) Muzzleloading Rifle, weight 5-3-27 (671 lbs), (RGF No. 450, Mk. II, 1876) on left trunnion, Firth Steel No. 4539 on the muzzle, Queen Victoria cypher, broad arrow mark, mounted on an iron carriage with wood wheels.  This gun was a new design in 1874 for the Royal Horse Artillery.  It was longer than the 8-cwt gun but had the same carriage.  It is on a five year loan to the 15th Field Artillery Regiment Museum & Archives in Vancouver from the RCA Museum.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3300651)

9-pounder 8-cwt Guns, 13th Battery, Winnipeg, July 1905.

(Clive Prothero-Brooks Photo)

9-pounder 8-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle with Limber, weight 8-1-6 (930 lbs), (RGF No. 620) on the left trunnion, Queen Victoria cypher, broad arrow mark, Serial No. 5791 on the muzzle, mounted on a wood wheeled field carriage, Serial No. 1460,  This gun is on loan from RCMP Depot, and is on display inside the 1 RCHA HQ, 2nd floor.  1 RCHA.

9-pounder 8-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle, weight 8-1-9 (933 lbs), (RGF No. 450 II, 1876) on the left trunnion, mounted on a wooden wheeled field carriage.

Amherstburg, Fort Malden National Historic Site, Ontario

9-pounder 8-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle, weight, and Serial No. unknown, mounted on a wood naval gun carriage.

Bloomfield

(Terry Warner Photo)

9-pounder 8-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle, weight 8-1-4 (928 lbs), (RGF No. 628, I, 1874) on the left trunnion, Queen Victoria cypher, unmounted.  Edson Warner.

Brockville

(JustSomePics Photos)

(Terry Honour Photo)

(Chris Charland Photo)

9-pounder 8-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle, weight 8-1-4 (928 lbs), (RGF No. 237, I, 1872) on the left trunnion, Queen Victoria cypher, mounted on a steel carriage, Newcastle on Tyne plate on the trail.

Fort Henry, Ontario

9-pounder 8-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle, weight 8-0-0 (896 lbs), (RGF number unknown, 1873), Queen Victoria cypher, mounted on a wood wheeled carriage.

London, Royal Canadian Regiment Museum, Wolseley Barracks, 750 Elizabeth Street, Ontario

(Maxwell Toms Photos)

9-pounder 8-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle, weight 8-1-5 (928 lbs), (RGF No. 228, I, 1872, FS2750) on the left trunnion, Queen Victoria cypher (1837-1901), mounted on concrete blocks.

(Maxwell Toms Photos)

9-pounder 8-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle, weight 8-1-9 (933 lbs), (RCF No. 630, I, 1874) on the left trunnion, Queen Victoria ’cypher (1837-1901), Armstrong stamped on the trunnions, mounted on a wooden wheeled carriage, 1452 plate on the trail.

(Maxwell Toms Photos)

9-pounder 8-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle, weight 8-1-9 (933 lbs), (RGF No. 633, I, 1874, FS3420) on the left trunnion, Queen Victoria’ cypher (1837-1901), mounted on concrete blocks.

Omemee, Ontario

(Terry Honour Photo)

9-pounder 8-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle, weight 8-1-8 (932 lbs), (RGF No. 639, 1871) on the left trunnion.  W.G. Armstrong & Co., Newcastle on Tyne(Serial No. 1178) on the trail. The gun’s carriage and axle are in place, but there are no wheels. Queen Victoria cypher. The gun is located beside the War Memorial.

Ottawa, 30th Field Artillery Regiment, Bytown Gunners Museum, Ontario

(Doug Knight Photos)

(Author Photos)

Cast Iron 9-pounder 8-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle Mk. II, weight 8-1-10 (934 lbs), RGF No. 596, I, 1873, mounted on a black replica carriage.  Also known as “The Turner gun”. This 9-pounder was presented to BGen W.W. Turner when he was the Colonel Commandant of the RCA.  It is in the Guns of Kingston list and was on his lawn at Kingston for a while.  Before presentation to him, it was supposedly at Valcartier, or at least refurbished for presentation there.  The gun has an extra vent identical to the Ottawa Time Gun and it is possible that it was a time gun at or near Québec after it retired from the CF.  It is mounted on a replica sea service carriage that has no relation to the gun.

The CWM artefact (serial No. 595) is a Mk. II that was originally intended for sea service. It is on loan to 30th Fd. The carriage is a reproduction of a slide mounting for a traversing carriage, which was used in fortifications. Another version was the 9-pounder 6-cwt gun that was intended for field use. The large hole on the top right of the breech is for the gun sight. Brigadier W. W. Turner donated the gun to the museum. It possibly served in a Royal Artillery Battery stationed in the Halifax garrison in the 1870s (1, 2, and 7 Battery, RA, were in Halifax from 1873-1876). CWM 20010245-002. (Doug Knight)

(Author Photos)

9-pounder 8-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle, weight 8-1-6 (930 lbs), RGF No. 233, I, 1872 on the left trunnion, Firth Steel 2549 on muzzle, Queen Victoria cypher, broad arrow mark,  mounted on a wood wheeled iron gun carriage.

(Author Photo)

9-pounder 8-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle, weight 8-1-6 (930 lbs), (RGF No. 2) on the left trunnion, Firth Steel No. unknown on the muzzle, Queen Victoria cypher, broad arrow mark, mounted on a German Boer War Gun carriage that is on loan from the Canadian War Museum

Ottawa, Canadian War Museum, 1 Vimy Place, Ontario

9-pounder 8-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle Mk. II, weight 8-1-13 (937 lbs), (RGF No. 2850, 1873) on the left trunnion, unmounted, stamped Sir W.G. Armstrong and Co., Newcastle on the Tyne. This gun was a bollard that stood in front of the Ottawa Armouries. It is corroded forward of the trunnions.

2 RCHA, 4 Canadian Division Support Base (4 CDSB) Petawawa, Ontario

(Author Photos)

9-pounder 8-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle, weight 8-1-0 (924 pounds), (RGF No. 22, I, 1870), mounted on a wood wheeled carriage. It stands in the foyer of the 2 RCHA RHQ.

Peterborough, Hasting and Prince Edward Regiment Armoury, Ontario

(Author Photos)

9-pounder 8-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle, weight 8-1-6 (930 lbs), RGF No. 226, I, 1872, Queen Victoria cypher, Firth’s Steel 2754 on the muzzle, mounted on a wheeled carriage.  The wheels on this gun actually belong to the SBML noted above.  Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment Armoury.

Watson's Corners, Ontario

RML 9-pounder 6-cwt Gun, replica mounted on wood and iron wheels. This gun is a firing reproduction made by Tony Walsh for Parks Canada.

Williamstown, Ontario

(JSDAFM Photos)

9-pounder 8-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle, weight >900 lbs, Reg. No. unknown. This type of gun was used in the NW Rebellion, 1885.   Sir John Johnson House.

Gatineau, Quebec

(Doug Knight Photos)

(Terry Warner Photo)

9-pounder 8-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle Mk. 1, weight 8-1-7 (931 lbs), RGF No. 628, I, 1874 on the right trunnion.  This gun is possibly associated with No. 15 Shefford-Granby Battery.  his MLR is now in the hands of Les Matross.  Its restoration and rehabilitation are in the hands of Normand Roberge and Tony Walsh.

Montréal, Mont Royal Cemetery, Quebec

(Author Photos)

(Réjean Montmarquet Photos)

9-pounder 8-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle, weight 8-1-8 (932 lbs), (RGF No. 637, 1874) on the left trunion,  mounted on a c1840 field carriage, No. 1 on the North side of the Section Militaire du cimetière Mont-Royal, on a hill overlooking the military gravestones.

(Author Photos)

(Réjean Montmarquet Photos)

9-pounder 8-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle, weight 8-1-9 (933 lbs), (RGF No. 556, 1872) on the left trunnion, mounted on a 1875 field carriage, No. 2 on the South side of the Section Militaire du cimetière Mont-Royal, on a hill overlooking the military gravestones.

(Jean-Philippe Boulet Photo)

9-pounder 8-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle, weight unknown, RGF No. unknown, mounted on a ca. 1840 field carriage.  This gun stands inside the Cemetery Gates to the National Field of Honour.

‍Keswick Ridge

(Author Photos)

9-pounder 8-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle, weight 8-1-13 (937 lbs), Queen Victoria cypher, Sir W.G. Armstrong and Co., No. 285, Newcastle on the Tyne on the left trunnion.   9-pounders like this gun were used in the North West Rebellion in 1885.  This gun was previously located at Maces Bay. It now stands outside the Keswick Ridge Historical Society Museum.

Oromocto, Fort Hughes, New Brunswick

9-pounder 8-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle, weight 8-1-8 (932 lbs),  (RGF No. 2357, 1873), Sir W.G. Armstrong and Co., Newcastle on the Tyne on the trunnion. Sir Douglas Hazen Park.

New Brunswick Military History Museum, 5 Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown, New Brunswick

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9-pounder 8-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle, weight 8-1-4 (928 lbs), (RGF No. 23, 1870) on the left trunnion, Firth Steel 1580 on the muzzle, Queen Victoria cypher, W arrow D, R.C.D. 1877, No. 459, I, stamped on the iron carriage with wood wheels.  Inside the museum.

Saint John, Royal Kennebecasis Yacht Club, New Brunswick

9-pounder 8-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle, weight 8-1-1 (925 lbs), (RGF No. unknown, 1873), I, mounted on an iron field carriage, stamped RCD 1873, No. 92, Sir W.G. Armstrong and Co., Newcastle on the Tyne.  1042 Millidge Ave.

Charlottetown,  Queen Charlotte Armoury, Queen`s Square. 3 Haviland Street, Prince Edward Island

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(Author Photos)

9-pounder 8-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle, weight 8-1-6 (930 lbs), left trunnion (R-G-F No. 274, I, 1872), right trunnion blank, stamped with the King’s Arrow, 30, Firth's Steel No. 2840 on the muzzle,  Queen Victoria cypher on the barrel.  The gun is mounted on a wheeled carriage stamped Sir W.G. Armstrong and Co. Newcastle on the Tyne, No. 1455.  On display inside the PEIR armoury.

Summerside, Prince Edward Island

(Author Photos)

9-pounder 8-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle, weight 8-1-7 (921 lbs), RGF No. 128, 1871, mounted on farm wheels, St Eleanor.  No. 1 of 2.

(Author Photos)

9-pounder 8-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle, weight 8-1-5 (919 lbs), RGF No. -7-,  Queen Victoria cypher on the barrel, mounted on farm wheels, St Eleanor.  No. 2 of 2.

‍Summerside, Prince Edward Island Regiment Armoury, Slemon Park, Prince Edward Island

(Author Photos)

9-pounder 8-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle, weight 8-1-6 (920 lbs), RGF No. 119, 1871 on the trunnion, Firth's Steel No. 2155 on the muzzle,  Queen Victoria cypher on the barrel, mounted on wooden wheels, inside the Prince Edward Island Regiment Armoury, Slemon Park.  Inside the RHQ building.

Annapolis Royal, Fort Anne, Nova Scotia

(Author Photos)

9-pounder 8-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle Mk. III (SS) Gun, weight 8-1-6 (930 lbs) on the barrel, the left and right trunnions have been painted over, RGF No. not legible, Queen Victoria cypher, No. 1 of 2, mounted on a Mk. II all steel carriage with Madras wheels.  In the UK, the 9-pounder 8-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle was replaced by the BL 12-pounder in permanent artillery batteries before the Boer War, but militia units in Canada continued to use them until after 1905.

(Author Photos)

9-pounder 8-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle Mk. III (SS) Gun, weight 8-1-7 (931 lbs) on the barrel, the left and right trunnions have been painted over, RGF No. not legible, Queen Victoria cypher, No. 2 of 2, mounted on a Mk. II all steel carriage with Madras wheels.

Bridgewater, Nova Scotia

(Author Photos, 6 Sep 2018)

9-pounder 6-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle, weight 5-3-26 (670 lbs), left trunnion (R-G-F No. 437, II, 1876), right trunnion blank, Firths Steel No. 4482 on the muzzle, mounted on a wood stand in the Veterans Memorial Park.  Flanking the sign for Veterans Memorial Park north position, on the corner of York Street and Victoria Road, No. 1 of 2.

(Author Photos, 6 Sep 2018)

9-pounder 6-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle, weight 5-3-26 (670 lbs), left trunnion (RGF No. 452, II, 1876), right trunnion blank.   Mounted on a wood stand flanking the sign for Veterans Memorial Park, south position, on the corner of York Street and Victoria Road, No. 2 of 2.

Halifax, Royal Artillery Park, Nova Scotia

Left trunnion.

Right trunnion.

Rifled Muzzle, Firth Steel 1880.

Royal Carriage Division (RCD), 11872 No. 60, I.

(Author Photos)

9-pounder 6-cwt (SS) Muzzleloading Rifle, weight 5-3-26 (670 lbs), (RGF No. 399, II, 1875) on the left trunnion, blank on the right trunnion, Firths Steel 4320 on the muzzle, Queen Victoria cypher on the barrel.  The gun is mounted on an iron carriage, WD, R.C.D. 11872, No. 60, I, with wood 12-pounder wheels, ca. 1874-1895.  This gun stands facing the Halifax Citadel.  Another 9-pounder 6-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle preserved in Canada, RGF No. unknown, is on display in the Royal Canadian Artillery Museum, CFB Shilo, Manitoba and a third is in display at the war memorial in Shelburne, Nova Scotia, RGF No. unknown.  These 9-pounder 6-cwt guns were probably left behind when the British left Halifax in 1905.  All other 9-pounder Muzzleloading Rifles in Canada are 8-cwt.

Shelburne, Nova Scotia

(Ivan Smith Photo)

9-pounder 6-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle, weight 5-?-? (>600 lbs), (RGF No. unknown) on left trunnion, Queen Victoria cypher, broad arrow mark, mounted on an iron carriage with wood wheels. This MLR stands beside the war memorial.

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