Swivel Gun from La Belle
Mounted gun for protection on La Salle expedition
This swivel gun was discovered as part of the 1996 excavation of La Belle in Matagorda Bay. It would have been mounted on a pivot on the rail of the ship and used to fire small iron balls at enemy ships.
La Belle was well equipped with weaponry to support the 1684-85 American expedition of René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle. Besides the swivel gun, the ship carried deck cannons and smaller swivel guns to defend the ship and attack the Spanish, bronze and iron cannons that would have been used to guard the colony on land, and small arms for hunting.
Lender
Property of France from the collection of the Musée national de la Marine. Loan courtesy of the Texas Historical Commission, Austin
About
Weapons
60 3/50" Length X 11 4/5" Diameter
1680s
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