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US Navy Big Gun Firing Key


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I recently acquired this USN MK XVII MOD 7 Firing Key. I really felt lucky to find this one. These were used on the old warships and were used to fire the 5" up to the 16" big guns.

 

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Here is picture of the USS New Jersey (BB-62) Main Battery plotting room. The firing keys are part of the MK-41 stable vertical located below decks within the armor belt surrounding the hull. This is where the 16" guns were controlled and fired.

 

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I got this one from a Gentleman outside of Philadelphia. He worked on dismantling ships for decades. He could not I'd this firing key to a particular ship, but he said it definetly came from a Destroyer being scrapped in the mid 1970s.

 

Here is a vintage picture of the setup used on the USS Hornet CV-12. These keys were mounted on the MK-6 stable vertical element and were used to control 5" guns and others. The Destroyer would have used a similar arrangment. The three firing keys from left to right were labeled "Salvo Key", "Automatic Key", and "Hand Firing Key". Notice the "Automatic" key has knobs on the handle to prevent mistakes. This system dates back to the late 1930s.

 

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Hink, between this ultra-cool firing key find and your aircraft control pedals collection, you've got some highly unusual and highly neat-o stuff! :D

Terry

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Thank you all for the comments. I think my collecting habits are definetly different (sometimes strange) from most collectors LOL!!

 

I would like to put this one on a plaque, any ideas or thoughts on how to display this unique trigger?? I also thought about polishing the brass, but I think I will keep it as is. I like the old brass look. Any thoughts about polishing?

 

Here is another picture of the markings.

 

Chris

 

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If it were mine, I'd use walnut, but pine could be stained and is a lot cheaper. I'd cut a piece about the size of notebook paper for the "base" and affix a hanger on the back, the brass strip kind with teeth that you nail on, something like that. Build a box deep enough to accommodate the snout of the piece that would go into the actual housing on the ship. Use a hole saw or forstner bit to make a hole for the snout in that "box" part and plan to bolt or screw the key into the "box" you made. After finishing, sanding, etc., botl the key into the box, screw the box onto the base, and hang it on the wall of your war room so it is oriented just as it would have been on the ship. Might even screw it into the stud of your wall if you didn't mind doing that.

 

I can't draw and post a picture at the moment, hopefully that was somewhat coherent.

 

I agree with leaving the patina. The only cleaning it ought to get is from your hand when you pull the trigger as you walk by.

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If it were mine, I'd use walnut, but pine could be stained and is a lot cheaper. I'd cut a piece about the size of notebook paper for the "base" and affix a hanger on the back, the brass strip kind with teeth that you nail on, something like that. Build a box deep enough to accommodate the snout of the piece that would go into the actual housing on the ship. Use a hole saw or forstner bit to make a hole for the snout in that "box" part and plan to bolt or screw the key into the "box" you made. After finishing, sanding, etc., botl the key into the box, screw the box onto the base, and hang it on the wall of your war room so it is oriented just as it would have been on the ship. Might even screw it into the stud of your wall if you didn't mind doing that.

 

I can't draw and post a picture at the moment, hopefully that was somewhat coherent.

 

I agree with leaving the patina. The only cleaning it ought to get is from your hand when you pull the trigger as you walk by.

I decided to follow your advice. I made this today. Not great but it looks good on the wall. I added the "Dog Zebra" condition plate.

 

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By god, it looks good to me! Well done!

Thank you for your comments and ideas. The DZ plate was something I had around the house. I think it looks good together even though they are totally unrelated.

 

Chris

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