“The Converted Eight Inch Muzzle Loading Rifle” by Lieutenant Duncan Kennedy, U.S.N.
An 1877 article in Proceedings by Lt. Duncan Kennedy describes the process by which 8-Inch Rifles were converted from 11-Inch Dahlgren Smoothbores. The text of that article as well as historical and recent photographs of Dahlgren cannons are given to illustrate the article.
The Manufacture of US Navy 8-Inch Muzzle Loading Rifles from 11-Inch Dahlgren Shell Guns
An excerpt from Augustus Paul Cooke's A Text Book of Naval Ordnance and Gunnery Prepared for the Use of Cadet Midshipmen of the United States Naval Academy describes the manufacture of 8-Inch Muzzle Loading Rifles from existing 11-Inch Dahlgren Smoothbore Shell Guns. The post includes cutaway illustrations from the book and photographs from preserved Dahlgren cannons.
The Cannons of Trophy Park
Norfolk Navy Yard Trophy Park in Portsmouth, Virginia displays a number of Dahlgrens and Parrott Rifles from the mid 19th Century US Navy. Some are displayed as they were manufactured. Others received modifications and conversions in the 1870s. Many thanks to Flickr user Jimmy for the permission to use these photos.
John Dalhgren’s Heavy Smoothbores for the US Navy
An overview of John A. B. Dahlgren’s heavy smoothbore cannon designed and created for the US Navy.
8-inch Dahlgren Rifles at Patriot’s Point
Four Dahlgren 8-Inch Muzzle Loading Rifles are on display outside of Patriots Point Soccer Stadium. These cannon were converted to rifles in 1879-1880 from 11-Inch Dahlgren Smoothbores which had been cast at Builders Foundry in Providence, Rhode Island in 1863.