Китаб Хона

Purchased at auction from Christie's, London, on 10th October 2013: sale 1148, Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds, lot 65. Last sold at an auction in Essen, Germany, in 1995, as an 'early bronze fire-weapon', seemingly as an object of curiosity in a sale largely devoted to Islamic coins. According to the communication undertaken by Christie's with the German auction house, it was originally consigned to them for sale by a Mr Shapur Katebi, an antiques dealer based in Cologne, who traded for 40 years and closed his business in 2011. He died in 2012.
with slightly flared base and cylindrical shaft with a pronounced boss at either end, the shaft widening to a cup-shaped barrel with everted rim and similar pronounced bosses, the whole weapon with a series of simple double engraved registers, the shaft also with a bold naskh inscription, remains of a square-section iron rod in the base, various small knocks and dents. On the shaft, mimma 'umila bi-rasm al maqarr al-'ali Kertbey al-Ahmar, 'This was produced on the order of his highness Kertbey al-Ahmar'
Dimensions: Length: 24cm

Acquired from the Turkish Government in 1868 as result of negotiations initiated by Major General J.H.Lefroy, R.A., F.R.S., later General Sir John Lefroy, K.C.M.G., C.B. Transferred in 1929 from the Rotunda Museum, Woolwich, where it was No.II, 189.
This very large gun is made in two pieces, chase and breech, the two parts screwing together. The breech is shorter and of slightly smaller diameter than the chase. Both parts are cast with prominent double mouldings at either end which are joined longitudinally by sixteen crosspieces to form an equal number of sockets for the insertion of the levers used in screwing or unscrewing the two parts. The rest of the length is divided by rounded mouldings, five on the chase and three on the breech. The surface between the outermost of these mouldings and the prominent mouldings at the ends is filled with two interlocking bands of formalised flower or leaf ornament, one raised, the other sunken. The muzzle is inscribed in Turkish in relief: 'Help O God. The Sultan Muhammad Khan, son of Murad. The work of Munir Ali in the month of Rejeb. In the year 868' (Muhammad Khan= Mahomet II, Sultan of Turkey, 1430-81; 868=A.D. 1464). Near the vent are engraved directions for loading which may be translated as follows:
Diameter, chamber, 7 parmak, 80 nokta (9.4in) (23.9cm): muzzle, 20 parmak (26.7in) (67.8cm): shot, 19 parmak, 25 nokta (23.8in) (60.4cm). Weight of shot, 240 okes (676lb) (306.6kg) Charge, 17.5 okes (49.35lb) (22.4kg).
The bore shows score marks made by the stone shot.
Dimensions: Length complete: 17 ft (204 in) (518.2 cm), Length breech: 5 ft 6 in (66 in) Weight: Breech: 8 tons 16 cwt (8941 kg), Barrel: 8 tons (8128 kg)
Calibre Barrel: 2 ft 1 in (63.5 cm); Chamber: 9 in (22.9 cm)

Ottoman 52 Pounder Cannon.
The Turkish Gun in Horse Guards Parade was captured by the British after the siege of Alexandria during the Napoleonic Wars, in 1801. It was transported to Horse Guards Parade (London) in 1802.
The barrel made in 1524 by Murad, son of Abdullah,the Ottoman Chief Gunner and almost certainly saw action at the decisive battle of Mohacs ( Hungary 1526) and the siege of Vienna ( 1529)
The "matching" embossed carriage was made later by J&E Hall, of Dartford in Kent and features Egyptian imagery, a Sphinx quoin, crocodiles and pyramids along with a victorious Britannia.
The inscription on the barrel reads:
The Solomon of the age the Great Sultan Commander of the dragon guns (to be made) When they breathe roaring like thunder. May the enemy’s forts be raised (sic) to the ground. Year of Hegira 931.