Description
Traditions Napoleon III Nickel Cannon – .69 Caliber
This is a modern Traditions Napoleon III .69 caliber replica cannon with nickel-plated barrel, hardwood field carriage, metal-rimmed wheels, and authentic-style cannon accessories. It is a large-scale working miniature artillery piece patterned after Civil War field cannon styling rather than an original 19th-century cannon.
Traditions Napoleon III Replica Cannon
This cannon is the large .69 caliber version of the Traditions Napoleon III line. The model is built as a displayable and fireable black-powder cannon, with a smoothbore barrel, hardwood carriage, metal-rimmed wheels, and field-artillery style carriage layout.
The nickel-plated barrel gives the piece a bright polished presentation. The carriage has a stained hardwood finish with metal hardware, spoked wheels, wheel rims, axle assembly, trunnion supports, trail, and rear fittings. The overall form is decorative, but the model was made as a functioning miniature cannon.
Specifications
Model: Traditions Napoleon III
Finish: Nickel-plated barrel
Caliber: .69 caliber
Bore / Ball Diameter: .690 round ball
Barrel Length: 14.5 inches
Height: 11.5 inches
Wheel Diameter: 11.5 inches
Weight: Approximately 15 pounds
Carriage: Hardwood with metal-rimmed wheels
Type: Modern black-powder replica cannon
Construction / Configuration / Pattern
The cannon has a polished nickel-finished smoothbore barrel mounted between two hardwood spoked wheels. The wheels have metal outer rims and metal hub hardware. The barrel is held in a field carriage with trunnion caps, carriage fittings, and a rear trail assembly.
The model includes authentic-style accessories suitable for display with the cannon. The white wool-tipped implements mounted near the barrel give the piece a more complete artillery presentation. A coil of rope and rear carriage hardware add to the field-gun display appearance.
This is a large-scale miniature cannon rather than a full-size artillery piece. It is suitable as a collector’s display piece, black-powder cannon collectible, or companion item for Civil War and artillery-themed collections.
Historical Context / Pattern Development
The name and styling reference the Napoleon-type field cannon, one of the best-known artillery profiles associated with the American Civil War period. Full-size Napoleons were bronze smoothbore field guns valued for reliability, simplicity, and effectiveness at close to medium range.
This Traditions cannon is not an antique cannon and should not be described as Civil War manufacture. It is a modern reproduction inspired by Civil War field artillery form. The hardwood carriage, spoked wheels, metal wheel rims, and smoothbore barrel give it the appearance of a scaled-down field piece while keeping it at a manageable display size.
Traditions marketed this line as working artillery in miniature, with the Napoleon III offered in both large .69 caliber and smaller .50 caliber versions. The large .69 caliber nickel model is the heavier and more substantial version, with the look and feel of a working miniature artillery piece.
Condition
This cannon presents in excellent display condition. The nickel-plated barrel remains bright and polished, with light handling marks expected from display and storage. The bore opening, muzzle face, and barrel surfaces present cleanly.
The hardwood carriage has an attractive brown finish with visible grain. The wheels, spokes, hubs, trail, and carriage fittings appear complete. The metal-rimmed wheels give the piece a finished field-artillery profile. The included accessories remain mounted with the cannon and add strong display value.
As a functional black-powder replica, the cannon should be inspected before any use and handled only according to manufacturer instructions and applicable law. It displays well as a large-scale Traditions Napoleon III nickel cannon with authentic-style field carriage and accessories.
