Steve, middle row, second fuse from the left in your group photo appears to show the 90 degree wedge on the face of the fuse.
6lbgun, Vicksburg campaign, 1863
John, the lack of a precice question is due to my ignorance, but I'll try again:
Ans. I certainly did not mean to imply that you are ignorance, my poor memory just lost the central question. I apologize.
1. I was under the impression that ONLY Confederates manufactured the gasket rebate modification;
Ans. I believe both sides would have seen the need to secure the gasket in the bottom fuse well rebate to keep the gasket in position and keep it out of the fuse threads.
2. I was under the impression that Bormann fuses with the 90 degree wedge were ONLY manufactured by Yankees;
Ans. From what I have seen in the images I have that the ‘wedge’ was cast on both U.S. and C.S.
3. Therefore, I was confused why I would find a Confederate manufactured case-shot shell with a Yankee manufactured fuse;
Ans. How do you know that it isn’t a U.S. fuse?
4. What will I learn? Based on 1-3 above, if I section the shell and see no rebate, combined with a 90 degree wedged Bormann, I might can assume it was fired by Yankees.
Ans. I think that Woodenhead has really found the way to Identify a C.S.-by its thicker fuse. You can measure by radiograph or cut the shell and fuse in half and measure. The only I have – did the U.S. also determine they had a fuse problem and also cast theirs thicker?
I was told a couple years back that it is possible that the Confederate shell was captured by Yanks, then inserted with their own fuses, or Rebs inserting captured Yankee Bormann fuses into their own shells.
However, my "assumptions" about all this may be wrong, therefore leading to a flawed question that demands an impossible answer. But that's why I'm posting here. I want to know what better educated folks know about this topic, and if that means I'm wrong -- well
that's what I need to know. Thanks all
Comment: Like my replies, all theory with little documentation.
If you look at the condition of fired fuses they are so deformed to make it impossible to apply a fuse wrench. U.S. Bormanns are set with white lead in its threads also making it difficult to remove, let alone the danger of unscrewing the fuse.
If the C.S. had bought Wright’s fuse casting machine and used it, then there would be no difference in fuse design after 1863.
Woodenhead’s references appear to ‘checkmate’ all our assumptions.
Regards,
John
-60-