The U.S. Life-Saving Service was one of the forerunners of the U.S. Coast Guard was founded to rescue shipwrecked sailors using government supplied equipment such as these Lyle guns which were used to launch lines to distressed ships. They were designed upon request of Superintendent Sumner Increase Kimball of the U.S.L.S.S. in conjunction with the Board of Ordnance and First Lieutenant David Lyle. They remained in use and production until the early 1950s. This pre-World War I example is marked "R.I.W. No 700 1905 L.M.F." on the muzzle and "US/LSS" on the right trunnion. It has a post-1935 style ignition system that used blank cartridges rather than friction primers. It is mounted on a wood and iron carriage. The projectile is dated "1904," also marked "28," measures approximately 21 inches in length, and weighs 18 lbs. 12 oz.

Very fine with attractively aged patina on the brass cannon barrel, some light oxidation on the re-blacked iron carriage furniture, and varnished wood on the modern carriage.