6pr 7 cwt Drill Round.

[Alan1]

H/w a pic of a 6pr 7cwt drill round that has had a hard life, as most drill rounds had, and, indeed, have.
It came to me in a sorry state with numerous splits and chips in the timber of the "shell", the securing pin missing and the lead inner weight broken and deformed. I have repaired it to the point of stability, but left the evidence of its use (and probably misuse) intact. It is now reasonably solid and the brass nose is fixed and secure.
Headstamps are interesting, it started out as a Royal Laboratory product in 1942, barred out, and then RL again, 1942, again, with 73 and G & T. I take it that a fired case was used as the origin of the drill round itself.
I expect that Tim can tell me who G & T are, but what means the enigmatic "73". Was this the equivalent of a Lot number or simply a numerical record of numbers produced?
Alan1.

 

[TimG]

Alan,

Most likely Greaves & Thomas, 103 Amherst Works, Northwold Road, Clapton, London. E5. Upholsterers &chair makers.

Have you an image of the headstamp?

TimG

 

[Alan1]

Thanks Tim.
H/w a couple of rubbish pics of the headstamps - I am the world's worst photographer.
Clockwise from the top

6PR 7CWT
What may be a makers' logo - rather like half a flying bird, as it were
RL barred out
G & T, wch you have identified.
RL
1942 barred out
1942, and in small capitals CD
broad arrow
Larger broad arrow and 8
73, heavily stamped, and F
LOT, very faintly impressed
There may be other marks that I cannot readily discern
Alan1

 

[TimG]

Alan,

"What may be a makers' logo - rather like half a flying bird, as it were" - pareidolia?! (Greaves and Thomas don't appear to have used an avian trademark)
The case was obviously made by Woolwich, there is no apparent filling history and no apparent overall acceptance stamp - very large broad arrow. I suspect it never left Woolwich before they have modified the primer and cut it up. This would explain why the original "RL" has been barred out then restamped. "G & T" have then stamped it when they made it into a drill round. The small broad arrows with CD, 8, 73 and F are all most likely various examiners marks.

TimG

 

[Alan1]

Cheers Tim.
Much appreciate yr help.
A.