This topic was brought up here before but it became sidetracked and subsumed by related but tangential issues. So I want to ask it as a centerpiece for discussion.
Among the knowledgable artillery folks here, is there a diversity of opinion regarding the Bormann fuze with a 90 degree "pie slice" on its face as being strictly Yankee made or manufactured? In other words, is there disagreement among the experts here as to whether this particular type Bormann was strictly Union, or is there a consensus that it is?
I'm not sure if just one person can answer this or not (maybe so), but if not, I hope many of our big hitters would chime in to give me an idea. (I know Pete is still recovering -- God Bless him -- so he might not be ready or able yet. But I respect and admire all of the others here.)
The reason I ask: Over the years I have been doing research regarding a little known or studied-about skirmish/battle here in Mississippi. I hope one day to put my findings in book form. The land owner has allowed me to metal detect the site to compliment my research. Both Union and Confederate artillery was used here. Historical sources, both primary and secondary, do not reveal a complete list of artillery types used that day. I am using fragments and actual projectiles found at the site to compliment those written documents to help identify artillery types used. Over the past several years I have found blown Bormann fuzes, and the ones identifiable show the 90 degree wedge. As a consequence, I used that as support to consider that the Yankees were in possession of at least one smoothbore (though my documents beforehand had led me to think that most, if not all, Yankee guns used there were rifled). Well, I found a complete 12 pounder case-shot with complete Boremann
fuze with the 90 degree wedge. This seemed to further my thinking. However, I had that shell sectioned (and posted it here a couple of years ago) and it was revealed that the shell was Confederate manufactured (rebate). So for the last several years I've been in limbo as to asserting whether the Yankees had one or more smoothbores. Well, yesterday, I dug up another 12 pound shell with a boremann fuze with the 90 degree wedge (punched at 5).
So now I'm completely torn as what to do. My relic hunting side (and my buddies who go with me) says "No! Don't cut it in half! You already have one sectioned, leave this one as is!" But my researcher side says, "You know what you have to do -- you have to section it, for if there is no rebate, combined with the 90 degree wedge, you could better theorize that the Yanks had at least one smoothbore. So, do it for history, not for selfish collecting!!!"
As y'all can see, I'm whining and don't know what to do. I come to this community to get as much knowledge about the 90 degree wedge theory as possible, hoping that with some collective wisdom I can much better come to a conclusion as what to do. My brain says "cut," my heart says "No way!"
Sorry for the long post. I hope to get some good advice and the latest up-to-date thinking on the 90 degree. Thanks!