Some old projectiles

[Birdseye]

Someone expressed an interest in the older stuff. I have picked up various examples as they appeared. I can't say that I have made a real effort at it. If you have the $ you can now, thru Al Gore's Interweb, assemble a very nice collection of American Civil War material very quickly. I must say that the only thing that I'd really like to add is a studded shell of some sort (broad hint).

Anyway, here is my collection in (almost) it's entirety.

First is a CW bar shot. It is about 11" long with a diameter that averages to about 3 3/4". It would have been fired from a 12 pdr. such as the Napoleon. It is missing the iron hemisphere from one end. It was excavated in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It needs electrolysis, you can see the laminations beginning to slough off.

The second is a 3" Hotchkiss shell with the base cup. Clearly excavated. I bought this in Ohio ages ago and recently bought a base cup on ebay. It would have been held together by a lead sabot. The grooves in the body of the shell are "flame grooves" that would direct the flame from it's fireing to the fuse to ignite it.

 

[Birdseye]

The first is a 12 pdr shell. Diameter 4.5" (115mm) weight 4 kg.
Second is a 5 pdr solid shot. Diameter is 3", weighs 1.7 kg. I bought this in NYC. It was, supposedly excavated from a property in Turtle Bay, a riverside neighborhood in NY. The thought was that it was from a British bombardment of Manhattan Island. Who knows.

The last two photos are of Whitworth bolts that I have posted before but which are included here for the sake of completeness.

 

[Birdseye]

Finally, some asociated objects.

First is a Cannon ball gauge with a USN marking.The diameter is 5 1/2". I suspect that it was a "no-go" gauge for a 24 pound ball whose nominal diameter was 5.68 inches.That is to say that if the ball could fit thru this, it was too small.

The second photo shows two packages of fuses from the Frankfort Arsenal, a wooden fuse plug for a 12 pdr with fuse inserted and a friction primer for a cannon.

Enjoy.

 

[Falcon]

Interesting bits. You don't see much US Civil War stuff in the UK.

 

[leeski]

very nice collection ive allways wanted one of those Whitworth bolts thay look great

 

[John D. Bartleson Jr.]

Whitworth Projectiles;

Hi Birdseye,
Here are some to add to your collection:
Best Regards,
John aka Bart

 

[John D. Bartleson Jr.]

U.s. Hotchkiss projectiles and Fuzes;

Birdseye,
I don't mean to override your original post, just thought the members would see more about the B.B. Hotchkiss ordnance.
Best Regards,
Bart

 

[Birdseye]

Birdseye,
I don't mean to override your original post, just thought the members would see more about the B.B. Hotchkiss ordnance.
Best Regards,
Bart

It is an interesting area. Also of interest is the fact that one of the most prestigious (and expensive) private (public) schools in the US is the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville CT. Funded by BB's widow, it has an extremely impressive campus and a student body of ~550.

[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotchkiss_School"]Hotchkiss School - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Hotchkiss_School_Seal.png" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/bf/Hotchkiss_School_Seal.png/200px-Hotchkiss_School_Seal.png"@@AMEPARAM@@en/thumb/b/bf/Hotchkiss_School_Seal.png/200px-Hotchkiss_School_Seal.png[/ame]

Turns out that 'ol BB was born about 5 miles from where I sit, in Watertown CT.

More than anyone wanted to know, I bet.

 

[John D. Bartleson Jr.]

Whitworth Schrapnel Shell;

Scott,
Do you know where I can get a copy of Boxer's patent with drawings of the Whitworth sectioned view I posted above.
Regards,
John aka Bart