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37mm

PeterC

Well-Known Member
Need some help with this one....37 x 195mm. Projectile is held in by 3 'dot crimps'. Not sure if projectile is original, remains of white over red bands close to tip. No headstamp, appears to be an early case type.
 

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I estimate this to be a very early (1880-1890) 37x197R 1.5 inch Nordenfelt shell case. I would love to hear the rim diameter for my reference list!
 
The case is a 1.5" Navy heavy Nordenfelt.
The projectile looks correct and usually has N 89 and N stamps. I have not seen any with paint but possibly it is original.
 
Thank you Gentlemen!

Hoeksel, Rim diameter is 59mm.
Ron, Yes, Projectile is stamped N over 89.

cheers,
Pete.
 
I thought it would be 42mm not 37mm ? though the band seems different from those.
My problem seems to be that the 37mm does not show up in my information. No mention in my Maxim/Nordenfelt Catalogue.
What gun used this and when did it appear ?
Are there markings on the cartridge base ?
 
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Here are 5 examples of the Nordenfelt rounds.
Headstamps are Plain, N, MN (monogram for Maxim-Nordenfelt, VS&M (Vickers), and a roll crimped Blank (inerted).
The copper-plated projectiles come in 2 lengths. All the others have N 89 on them.
 

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I thought it would be 42mm not 37mm ? though the band seems different from those.
My problem seems to be that the 37mm does not show up in my information. No mention in my Maxim/Nordenfelt Catalogue.
What gun used this and when did it appear ?
Are there markings on the cartridge base ?
Gordon,
1.5” Nordenfelt is actually 38mm. They get incorrectly categorised as 37mm. The headstamp is usually blank, but sometimes just an N, MN, or VSM. These are a reasonably common round here in Australia, with projectiles more available than the cases. The projectiles, as Ron states, are stamped N89 - which I find a little unusual - as Maxim bought out Nordenfelt in 1888 (and VSM took the company over in 1897). Graeme
 
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What gun fired these, a single shot type, I suppose similar to the 42mm ?
Maybe these were superceeded by the 42mm (at least in sales) which explains thier absence
in the catalogue.
 
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