1916 13 Pounder Case

[peregrinvs]

Hi,

A friend picked up this 13pdr case at the Chatham Militaria Fair for me today and he's sent me a pic of the headstamps. What can you tell me about it? Am I right in thinking it's Canadian? What does 'AI' stand for? What's the symbol above it? Is that a January 1925 RL marking on the primer? etc.

All input gratefully accepted.

Cheers,
Mark

 

[TimG]

Mark,

CCO is the mark of the Canadian Cartridge Company of Canada, this mark, CCO seems to only appear on their 13 Pr cases.

AI - Unknown, on 18 Pr cases it is normally a three letter string and appears to be date incremental.

The primer was made by RL - Royal Laboratory, Woolwich in January 1929 and filled by them 'W' in March 1930, Lot 978. It also appears the primer was refilled by ROF Aycliffe - AY.

TimG

 

[TimG]

Apologies,

Having checked my records the monogram for ROF Aycliffe is either AE or AYC, furthermore there is an absence of date and Lot number. AY may well be an inspection mark.

TimG

 

[peregrinvs]

Thanks for the info. Is it unusual to have a WWI made case with an interwar made primer?

 

[Dandebur]

Hello,
Thanks to peregrins to show us this case. 13 Pr II are not common at all. Thanks also to TimG for the identifications of the makers, british cases of WW1 are my main point of interest.
I say again what I have said in a previous post: in my opinion, the letters AI indicate the lot. CC is one of the canadian makers who uses this system. The first lots are stamped with one letter, then two letters and then three letters.
By CC in 1916, it seems they are two production lines. One have the inspector mark 8, who, I think, has succeded to the inspector 1 in 1915, the other have the inspector mark 6.
On 18 Pr II:
At the beginning of the year 1916, when the inspector mark is 8, then the logo is CC with nothing inside and that since the beginning of production, when the inspector mark is 6, then the logo is CC with a S inside.
From february 1916 to september 1916, it seems that the inspector 8 had a very little production. The range I have is lot BBB with the date 13 1 16 and logo CC, lot BVC dated 9 9 16, the logo is then CC with O inside, this one until the end of 1917.
On 13 Pr II, there is the same duality.
Inspector 6 with logo CCS and inspector 8 with logo CCO.
Pics 1&2: 18 Pr II lots BBB and BVC.
Pics 3&4 : 13 Pr II inspector 6, lot with one letter and lot with two letters.
Pics 5&6 : 13 PrII inspector 8, lot with two letters and lot with three letters.
Regards,
Dandebur.

 

[Dandebur]

Hello,
Regarding the case of WW1 with a primer post WW1, I have seen 18 Pr II and 4.5 Inch II, but then the cases are altered in II*. I have never seen that on 13 Pr II. ( that does not mean that does not exist!).
Pic 7: I show this example because I wonder if the R near CF is for Reduced Charge.
Any opinion would be appreciated.
Dandebur.

 

[TimG]

Dandebur,

You are correct in your assumption - R = Reduced

TimG

 

[Dandebur]

TimG,
Thank you very much,I am very happy with your confirmation.
Dandebur.