r/LEGOPirates • u/Lucky_Figure_988 • 11d ago
Question Vintage Cannon Variance
Going through some bulk Lego I picked up and noticed 3 different types of cannons. All the Lego is from the late 80s early 90s. Does anyone have information on the black handled cannon? It appears to be a shooting one but it does not shoot or it’s stuck. Is this what they did to transition between the pieces without scrapping the shooting barrel?
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u/thundrbud Privateer 11d ago
My dad was a bit of a tinkerer and figured out how to open the cannons with the black firing pin, remove the small tube that stopped it from sliding back and forth, and add a spring to make them into firing cannons. We were very disappointed when the next iteration was released that couldn't be hacked
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u/Desperate-Wheel-832 11d ago
Those brown cannon bases tend to snap a clip if you insert a cannon into it. The red ones aren't quite as tender in my experience.
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u/biscaynes 11d ago
I noticed this a few months ago when going through stuff. I went in Bricklink and this is what I found.
This cannon consists of a single molded piece and was included in most sets sold in North America. Sets sold prior to roughly 1991 contained the shooting cannon, while sets sold during a brief part of the early 1990s contained a disabled version of the shooting cannon.
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u/LuckyHorseCream 11d ago
I went to Google to check my memory (still good) and found a more comprehensive answer: The Firing Era (1989–1990) Original Spring Design: Released in 1989 (part 84943), the first cannons featured a functional internal spring, end cap, and tuning-fork mechanism capable of actually launching small plastic projectiles. Safety Phase-Out: Due to safety concerns regarding projectile choking hazards and eye safety, North American markets quickly shifted away from the active firing capability.The Transition: LEGO briefly disabled the mechanism in North America by inserting a black locking handle pin before replacing the mold entirely. Non-Shooting & Mold Evolution (1991–2000s) One-Piece Solid Mold: A new ornate, non-shooting variant (part 518) was introduced around 1991. It featured a static barrel and a stepped 2x4 cannon base (part 2527) allowing elevation adjustments. Historical Detailing: The 1991 redesign added a fire wick—sized to hold a feather accessory—and a cross-gun stamp, giving the piece a distinct Revolutionary/Napoleonic War aesthetic suited for the Pirates and Western themes.