Gordon, since you seem to be the ' go to man' on naval guns and carriages, I have a question. Do you think the line or rope coiled on the breech goes to a cannon lock ?? Do you know where they were mounted on the gun ?? I looked closely, and I see the rope end without a typical pull handle for firing the lock. Maybe they did not have a wood pull handle. I have a few cannon locks, but none of them have a rope or handle....
Also, anybody know how that breech sight operates or have ever seen one before ??