FAQ

No, cannons manufactured by Dunlap Cannon Co. are not capable of chambering 3 1/2 inch 10 gauge ammunition. To satisfy requirements of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Firearms Technology Industry Services Branch (FTISB) and avert a "firearm" classification, all Dunlap Cannon Co. cannons are made with a specifically sized chamber and a sharp shoulder to prevent chambering and firing of conventional 10-gauge projectile ammunition.

No, they are classified by the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) as saluting & signaling devices, not a firearm or weapon.

No, you do not need a firearms license or background check (ATF Form 4473) to purchase a Model 98 Signal Cannon. They are classified by the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) as saluting & signaling devices, not a firearm or weapon.

For the 2024 re-release edition of the Winchester Model 98 Cannon we are only producing a limited 250 units. These cannons will forever be unique to the special re-release of 2024 and feature a level of quality unseen in previous versions. Depending on consumer response and popularity, other cannons may be produced in 2025 and onward.

It is important to clean the bore of your cannon after every use/firing. Winchester and Dunlap Cannon Co. 10 gauge blanks use black powder or black powder substitute which is corrosive to metal. Follow the instructions in your owners manual on proper cleaning of the barrel bore. Keeping your cannon's metal parts well-oiled with an oil designed for gun-metal will protect its metal finishes and ensure it will last for many years to come. Always store your cannon cleaned and well oiled. We recommend Ballistol® oil to protect your cannon.

We offer a factory repair service with replacement parts for cannons manufactured by Dunlap Cannon Co. Due to the unique tools required to properly work on the cannons and safety concerns if improperly repaired, we do not recommend customers removing or replacing parts. In the future we are considering offering a repair service for older cannons not manufactured by Dunlap Cannon Co., but not at this time. Please contact us for further information on our parts and repair services.

If items are damaged during shipment, take photos of the damage, the box & packaging, and email the details and photos to us. Save the item, the box and all packing material. Once you've notified us we will submit an insurance claim. Given the high value of some shipments an investigation may take place by the insurance claims dept. before an adjustment, refund, or replacement can be made. Items damaged by the carrier will be repaired, replaced or refunded at the carrier's expense. We do our best to make sure our customers are made whole from any accidental damages during shipment.

Signal cannons are designed to be fired outdoors. When fired they are loud and produce smoke. In some situations the noise and smoke resulting from firing a signal cannon can negatively impact surrounding people and/or wildlife. Please be considerate of your surroundings when firing a signal cannon. It's your responsibility to confirm your community's ordinances regarding noise and noise-making. Noise ordinances are laws which some communities have to limit noise at different times of day for different zoned areas (e.g. residential, commercial, industrial). Be educated on your local laws regarding noise-making and saluting before firing your signal cannon.

We've chosen to randomly ship serial numbers, in no particular order. You could get any serial number, #0002 through #0250. They have all been inspected and hand assembled to ensure consistency and the highest quality. The only one we've reserved is serial #0001, for sentimental purposes. Serial #0001 will be kept as an heirloom, hopefully to be passed down from generation to generation to remember the historical re-release. Some things are kept as tradition, the way it should be.

Careful attention to detail was taken in recreating the 2024 re-release of the Winchester Model 98 Cannon to be as exact as the original as possible. The cannon is built to the part specifications derived from the Winchester produced cannons. To answer this question in another way, while we don't currently repair or sell parts for older cannons we know from experience that the primary parts that we produce for the 2024 Re-Release Model 98 Cannon are backwards compatible with the original Winchester produced cannons and Belmore Johnson cannons. There may be some unknown exceptions, but in our testing the parts work interchangeably in the older models we tested.

Specifically, the 2024 re-release features a comprehensive blued (black oxide) finish; an improvement over the japanned enamel and painted finishes that chip and broke easily on previous versions. The 2024 re-release uses the improved Belmore Johnson hammer design without the unnecessary pinned wheel that dragged on the hammer spring. Lastly, the 2024 re-release features a shouldered chamber which prevents the chambering of conventional 3 1/2" 10 Gauge projectile ammunition; to satisfy regulatory compliance by the ATF.

Yes! We offer factory tours and product pickup Monday through Friday, 10am - 2pm. Appointments are necessary. Maximum for scheduled tours is 15 people. Contact us to schedule a tour or select "Pickup" upon checkout.

Dunlap Cannon Co. does not have any open positions at this moment, but it never hurts to reach out and see if we're a good fit. Contact us