C.s. Archer Series;

[John D. Bartleson Jr.]

Mike,
I believe you can add a real image to the start of this series on the Archer.
Best Regards,
John

[emike123]

Well, I do not have the Bormann fused one, but I do have 10 different ones.  Here are 6 bolts:



I will have to do some digging to get my Archer shells out so if you or others have any in particular you'd like to see, let me know and I'll get at it.

This could be a very good thread.  I love Archer projectiles and I know Carl used to collect them.

[John D. Bartleson Jr.]

Mike,
 A beautiful set of bolts.  Is there a theory of why there is so many different sabot styles??
John
Below is second in this series.

[emike123]

I believe they were made in a lot of different places early in the war.  I suppose that is why so many differences.

Here is a picture of one of my shells, a 3.3" one with flame grooves.

[John D. Bartleson Jr.]

Mike,
  A never ending stock of these critters.
Regards,
John

[John D. Bartleson Jr.]

Mike,
  The ring base is not myh termonology. I don't believe there was Archers made as fixed ammunition.
Regards,
John

[emike123]

You have to wonder what the purpose of the groove in the tail below the sabot was for if not to tie on a powder bag on some of these types such as the one you show above which I believe is the same type I have in this picture:

[John D. Bartleson Jr.]

Hmmm the only one?

[emike123]

Not sure what you mean, John, but if you are asking if mine is the only one of this type, it is not.  These are uncommon shells, but not unique.

Interestingly the long shell in the post immediately above and the 3in bolt on the far left in my first picture are two of three CS Archer projectiles found by Pete George at Mechanicsville, VA. and the ones referenced in a story of his on page 73 of Dickey and George.  I got them from Jack Melton a few years ago.

[emike123]

#9 of my 10.  This one has a very small fuse hole only big enough for a paper fuse to go in without an adapter.

[John D. Bartleson Jr.]

Hi Mike,
  No, what I meant to say and didn't I guess, is that how odd that it is the only Archer with provisions to tie on a powder bag. Someone please give us some documentation on fixed rifle shells.
With that small fuse hole to fit only a paper fuse they were begging for an in bore explosion.

[John D. Bartleson Jr.]

Mike,
  What we really need to do is to photograph all of the sabot styles in pairs, one with sabot and the second one without its sabot so we can get an idea of what the individual style looks like with and without a sabot.
Regards,
John

[John D. Bartleson Jr.]

And finally one more for the collectors.
John

[John D. Bartleson Jr.]

Does anyone know the history and origin of the Archer projectile.
One is shown in the Abbot plates, Plate V.  can someone who has the Seige of Richmond post us what it sayhs about this projectile?
John

[emike123]

We discussed the Burton/Archer jv that started these projectiles off here:

http://bulletandshell.com/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=4dde4b3e6e84e656a21eb89a2574fa39&topic=405.msg2834#msg2834

No doubt there is a lot more to the story so welcome additional info.