Some 3" 50s and a 3" RF shell/case/hulls

[Slick]

Some interesting 3 inchers in the lot. The RF one requires some research. Pre-WW1 vintage, apparently. Without looking, am guessing it means "RAPID FIRE".

 

[pzjgr]

Thats a nice collection of 3" shells! That W.N.Y. case is interesting, I assume its either the slightly longer, or shorter case in Pic #8?

Bruce and I were both watching an oddball 4" case on GB a few weeks ago...it was not the standard 4" 50cal case, it was straight walled....also W.N.Y. made...wonder why the dirth of information on some of these oddball Navy cases.....

 

[Slick]

The 3" RF is 1/2" longer/taller than the 3" 50. 23.5" vs 23"

 

[pzjgr]

Since the cases really look identical except for length, perhaps its a driving band width thing like other 3" cases?

 

[Falcon]

A friend of mine has a pair of cases similar to the WNY case. These were made at WNY in 1916, and are the same length as your 1906 example. However, they are stamped "3in 50 Cal". 3in RF must be an earlier term for the same case.

 

[HAZORD]

Rick,

When you are comparing case lengths, you should also sit them all down on their bases and observe where the shoulder is. Sometimes you find some old ones that are different than the 3 inch 50 cal modern ones. The shoulder location is more important than the OAL.

@pzjgr, The older straight cases that you find in 4 inch, 5 inch, and 6 inch are the 40 caliber cases. You would need to look for information under those sizes.

Photos of a 4 inch 40 cal and 5 inch 40 cal here:

http://www.bocn.co.uk/vbforum/threa...Navy-from-the-O-Brien-room?highlight=inch+cal

 

[beihan62]

Hi Slick,That is a nice collection of cases you have there,well done,
Cheers,
Don,