Puzzle MasterCannon

(spoilers placed at bottom)The puzzle I received was flawed.After an hour of trying to solve this cannon puzzle, I finally got the cannon ball out (following the rules.) However, this was a very unusual solution, even to this puzzle collector. So I looked up the correct solution and found that there is a step to the solution that I skipped. I did think of (and tried) that step but it didn't work. In the end, I found a completely different way to solve this puzzle without that crucial step.I was able to fix my puzzle by using external tools.-- SPOILERS BELOW --The flaw in my puzzle is that the tool was screwed on WAY too tight from the factory - I needed pliers to break it loose.Here's how to solve it without the tool:Remove the barrel cap and set aside. Remove the weighted back part and hold in your dominant hand. In your other hand, hold the cannon in a way that allows you to look down the barrel and spy the plug holding the cannon ball in place. Pay special attention to the orientation of the slot on the plug. You need that to turn counter-clockwise to unscrew. If you lightly tap the flat surface of the weighted back part against the rod passing through the barrel you can cause the plug to turn slightly with each tap. Tapping the barrel at different angles will result in the plug turning in different directions.This only works if the plug is not tight. If you can hear the cannon ball rattling inside, you're good.

Really easy

The quality of material used for this is very good. Its also very cool to look at on your desk. I keep having people asking if it fires, and I hand it to them and they spend a while fiddling with it. Everyone I've shown it to (~7 people) besides my mom has solved it given enough time.

This was my second sequential discovery puzzle, and I solved it in less than 5 minutes. I think there was an unsecured piece that revealed a mystery too easily. The cannon is otherwise well made, but there are very little instructions on the rules of the puzzle, and what the actual goal is.For future puzzlers:The goal is to get the ball out of the cannon, and you don't need to use the base at all. No external tools allowed

Great product and service A++. Thank you.

While this is the kind of puzzle that I love to solve, due to poor assembly I was able to skip steps entirely and solve the puzzle without any effort at all or any entertainment at all. It appears there was little effort in making sure it was assembled correctly to ensure the puzzle would need to actually be solved Vs have the solution right in front of you. Plus, the puzzle looks like it was dropped down a flight of concrete stairs. It was packaged in protective packaging to prevent damage but the product was beat up really badly like I got a second had, extremely used product. Super disappointed. Spend your money elsewhere.

The ball was missing

The cannon base has multiple places with chipped paint, even one of the brass wheels has a chip in it. Looks like it tumbled down some concrete stairs. Cannon itself seems to be okay, although I haven't tried to solve it.