Friday 9 August 2013

An impressive weapon!


This splendid device was sourced in a shop on Scarborough last month.  It is a diecast piece complete with a (quite long range!) firing mechanism.  The calibre of the gun is 5mm, so even very large matchsticks could be fired.  I have no idea of it's origins but cast on the left side are the words "ABULLOCK GUN" - with the spacing as per my typing. To give an idea of the size of the thing it is posed with a pair of Starlux French officers (above) and a Conte Confederate officer (below).  
UPDATE 1440hrs 09/08/13:  Alex Kleanthous has been in touch and tells me that this is a Bullock Long Range Coastal Gun by MSR Toys: http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/2114775

Thanks again Alex!

26 comments:

Milgeek said...

I wondered when that piece would make and appearance! And a very impressive piece of hardware it is as well. :)

peter said...

Impressive gun it is! Looks real good!

Greetings
Peter

tradgardmastare said...

I feel an arms race is in the offing...

Ross Mac rmacfa@gmail.com said...

Coastal gun may imply defence but I can see 'someone' bolting that mount onto the front of saaay... a gun boat and pulverising someone else's coast. Might look good on an armoured train though.

Big Bertha, meet the Big Bull.

Tim Gow said...

Stephen Beat
Thanks for not talking me out of it!

Tim Gow said...

Peter
The range is also impressive. Accuracy (at least in my hands) somewhat less so....

Tim Gow said...

tradgardmastare
You've only just noticed?

Tim Gow said...

Ross Mac
I can certainly see it as a fortress gun, but I may rig up a field mount for it. I hadn't though of using it afloat....

Peter Douglas said...

Tim

Will you give us firing range results on it's range and destructive power? How does the 5mm calibre compare to the Britain's standard calibre?
Enjoy the new toy.
Cheers

PD

Tim Gow said...

Peter Douglas
I've only test fired matchsticks as yet - they had no problem covering the 20foot length of my toy room. I'll try it with other ammo when time allows.

Peter Douglas said...

Tim

I'd like to know it's full power - it certainly looks impressive! Can you test it's power on family members or small animals?

FYI, Bob C and I have discussing naval kit bashing over here http://wargamingmiscellany.blogspot.ca/2013/08/orp-byskawica.html
and it made me think of you.

Cheers
PD

The Dancing Cake Tin said...

Impressive gunnage!

On to Shrivers!!

Col said...

That almost redefines the meaning of Heavy Metal!

Archduke Piccolo said...

I want one. Actually I want four. Or more. Have you noticed that sensible toys like that are hard to get hold of these days? Mind you, China seems to be doing its bit to fill at least some of the gaps...

Brian Carrick said...

The Bullock Gun is without doubt the Rolls Royce of toy soldier ordnance. The standard 25lb barrel came on a variety of mountings: Garrison, Anti Aircraft, 25lb field gun and 6lb anti tank, there may have been others but these are the only ones I;ve seen.

If you look straight through the barrel to sight the gun before you load it the accuracy is devastating.

Best wishes, Brian

Tim Gow said...

Peter Douglas
I'll see if there are any volunteers to be targets....

Tim Gow said...

Dancing Cake Tin
It's certainly a big 'un!

Tim Gow said...

Col
According to my rather accurate postal scales it weighs in at 261g, as against a paltry 202g for the classic Britains 4.7...

Tim Gow said...

Archduke Piccolo
I'd not seen this particular model before but old matchstick firing guns are quite easy to find on the interweb and in junk shops.

Tim Gow said...

Brian Carrick
I'm starting to think that my £15 was money well spent! I tried your aiming method but just shot myself in the eye. Did I do something wrong?

The Dancing Cake Tin said...

'Look down the barrel before loading','devastating accuracy'???? My word you'll be using depleted uranium matchsticks next!

Tim Gow said...

Dancing Cake Tin
My matchsticks all have depleted sulphur warheads....

Paul Foster said...

Was the late Gerard Bull on the design team?

Nice addition!

Tim Gow said...

Paul
Maybe - but I don't think any of the components were made by Forgemasters in Sheffield.......

Steve-the-Wargamer said...

Definitely a bargain...

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-1940s-bullock-long-range-245448009

Tim Gow said...

Steve-the-wargamer
And mine works!