Keith,
I don't think the hole in the lug is for a pin, I think it is for a chord or rope to move it around with or maybe to pick it up ff of the ground after firing it.
Mike
Mike, I guess we'll have to disagree on this. My thinking is based upon knowing that 500 years ago, the Spaniards knew about the use of wheels, or pack animals like burros or llamas, to move heavy items. I think it is doubtful they would drag a gun or cannon barrel around with a small cord tied to the middle of the barrel. I can't think of any gun building culture that did something like that. Even primitive cultures learned that it is far easier to drag elongated items by one end, not the middle.
Nor would they intentionally add a tie point to pick it up off the ground after firing. Rather, they would come up with a design to keep it in the mount or carriage, and prevent it from hitting the ground. I just think it is probably a design flaw that could be corrected by enlarging the hole and using a larger diameter pin. I have no proof. Just making a guess using a bit of common sense.
