According to tradition the cannon was used by Henry Morton Stanley (1841–1904) on the Congo River. A young Dane, Albert Christoffersen participated in the expedition and afterwards received the cannon and other supplies as a gift. He eventually brought the cannon back to Odense in Denmark, where he later gave it as a gift of gratitude to Harlald Busch, in whose family it has been since. "The fireking, as it was called, stod in the bow of a river canoe used on the whole expedition and mentioned in his travel descriptions (quote from a letter by Rigmor Busch dated 22/8 1953). Copies of letters come with the cannon, but none which definitely prove the story.