Model British 60-pounder Breech-Loading Gun Mark I

This detailed model of the British 60-pounder Breech-Loading Gun Mark I is a remarkable example of craftsmanship. The breech mechanism even opens and closes—a testament to the precision of its construction.

Though we don’t know who made it, the quality suggests it may have come from the Elswick Ordnance Company in Newcastle, possibly as a prototype or as a display piece for the company’s directors. There are no markings or inscriptions to confirm this, but the workmanship speaks for itself.

The full-size 60-pounder was a key part of Britain’s artillery success in the First World War. Developed after lessons learned in the Boer War—where British guns fell behind in both range and mobility—it was designed to fire a heavy shell over 10,000 yards while staying light enough to move easily in the field.

Production began in 1904, and by 1905 the gun had replaced older models like the 4.7-inch Field Gun. It was heavier than planned, but still mobile, towed by horse teams or mechanical tractors like the Holt.

Each gun was operated by a ten-man crew from the Royal Garrison Artillery. Batteries initially had four guns, increasing to six in 1916. A total of 76 batteries, including two Canadian, served on the Western Front, with 25 more deployed elsewhere.

The gun was reliable, effective, and widely respected. One gunner, serving in Gallipoli in 1915, recalled:
“The most heartening thing of all was the sound of one of our 60-pounders which opened fire just about the time we did, its whip-crack being audible above everything.”

It fired high-explosive, shrapnel, or gas shells at a range of up to 10,000 yards, with a rate of one to two rounds per minute. By the war’s end, over 1,700 barrels and nearly 1,400 carriages had been made. The gun remained in service until 1941 and continued in training use until 1944—a sign of just how well it was built and how highly it was valued.