In this explosive episode of the No Lowballers Podcast, hosts Logan Metesh of High Caliber History and Allen Forkner of GunBroker.com head to San Antonio to meet with Kolby Lanham, Senior Researcher and Historian at the Alamo. Together, they pull the linstock back on the often-overlooked artillery of the famed Texas battle.
Kolby walks us through the real firepower at the Battle of the Alamo—ranging from 1-pound swivel guns to massive 18-pounders capable of hurling iron balls nearly two miles. He explains how the cannons were discovered buried in front yards and hotel foundations, why Mexican troops chose not to assault certain walls, and how 18th-century gunners used red-hot cannonballs to light enemy positions on fire.
You’ll also learn how some of these battlefield artifacts ended up as lawn ornaments, birdbaths, or even church bells. From Phil Collins’ private collection to Japanese monuments and cannon replicas made by a YouTuber (who also happens to be a distant cousin of Kolby’s), this episode delivers a truly global story of sacrifice, firepower, and historical preservation.
Cannon Recovery and the Samuel Maverick Story
How 15 buried Alamo cannons were rediscovered in a front yard during home construction—and how others are still buried beneath concrete in downtown San Antonio.
Types of Cannons at the Alamo
From 1-pound swivel guns to 18-pound siege guns, Kolby walks us through the specs, uses, and damage potential of the artillery on both Texian and Mexican sides.
Red-Hot Shot, Grape, and “Lagrange” Loads
How defenders used every trick in the book—from heated iron rounds to doorknobs, spoons, and horseshoes—to turn the mission into a deadly trap.
Why the Mexican Army Knew Exactly What to Avoid
Learn how their prior occupation gave Santa Anna’s forces inside knowledge on fort layouts—and still suffered hundreds of casualties.
Alamo Cannons as Birdbaths and Bells
The story of a cannon-turned-birdbath donated by a Maverick descendant, and a six-pounder melted down into a church bell just blocks from the site.
Cannon Conservation and Replication
Texas A&M’s preservation process, electrolysis baths, and the fascinating effort to create functional cannon replicas—including LIDAR scanning, bronze casting, and full-scale test fires.
Swedish Cannons and Global Origins
Why some of the Alamo’s cannons may have originated in 1670s Sweden and how merchant marine trade led to their eventual battlefield use in Texas.
Kolby Lanham – Senior Researcher and Historian, The Alamo
We explore the unlikely connection between Disney, Davy Crockett, and Phil Collins’ world-class collection of Alamo artifacts—and how he helped put hundreds of pieces into public hands.
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