The potato cannon can trace its origin to the World War II-era Holman Projector, which was a shipboard anti-aircraft weapon.
[6] Combustion powered potato cannons typically have the least complex designs; the four basic elements of which are: In order to fire, the operator loads a projectile into the barrel, adds fuel to the combustion chamber (for example aerosols or propane), and triggers the ignition source (often using a piezoelectric barbecue igniter).
[8] In order to fire, the operator first readies the pressure-triggered valve then injects several times the normal amount of fuel and appropriately more air.
[16] It is rare for a potato cannon to be powerful enough to break the sound barrier, although there are some cases of this happening using specialized designs.
Projectiles or failing guns can be dangerous and result in life-threatening injuries, including cranial fractures, enucleation, and blindness if a person is hit.