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We have a busy upcoming show schedule with the Gettysburg Show April 13-14 and then at Mansfield 3 weeks after that! 2 more shows on the calendar for June already and one in July!

Hope to see many of you at one of these shows.

U00549 - McEvoy Fuse Ignitor Part
Sorry, this item is no longer available!



Item Number: U00549

Item Title: McEvoy Fuse Ignitor Part

Price: $25

Shipping: Not included

Provenance: CS

Type: McEvoy

Shell Type: Rifled shell

Thread Diameter: N/A

Thread Count: N/A

Book: Artillery Fuses of the Civil War by Charles Jones : Page 63

Location Recovered: Unknown

Description:Nice examples of the lead weight from the CS McEvoy Fuse Ignitor invented by C.A. McEvoy in Richmond. These were created to ensure ignition of the paper time fuses in rifled shells. Some shell sabots apon firing sealed the bore so quickly and completely that the paper fuse would not be ignited. This add-on fuse component sat on top of the paper fuse and used the energy from firing of the cannon to create a flame to light the fuse. The fuse ingiter consisted of a round piece of wood with a hole bored down the center that fit over the protruding paper fuse in the shell. The paper time fuse only fit into this fuse ignitor about 1/3 of the way. The space above that had a hollow lead weight suspended from a cross wire that attached to a hollow center shaft with a hook that pulled loose on firing and ignited a fulminate compound. It was quite a simple invention that seemed to work quite well. A number were found in the cache at High Bridge, VA. The next-to-bottom images below is an example with the cross wire going through the hook into the weight. The bottom view is a complete fuse assembly with a cut-away view of the paper fuse in a CS copper adapter. The wood contains the lead weight in the position shown by the example weight next to it. You can see the side hole in the wood where the cross wire was inserted.

This sale is for one of the two lead weights shown in the first three images. Both are in identical shape with nice patina on the lead. They are missing the ignitor components of wood block, cross wire and wire hook. The center hole is clearly seen. Since the hook is missing I presume these are from fired shells. The first buyer can pick the one they want.