Bullet and Shell Civil War Projectiles Forum

Relic Discussion => Artillery => Topic started by: 24thMichigan on November 13, 2015, 07:05:20 PM

Title: Interesting 10-Inch Shell
Post by: 24thMichigan on November 13, 2015, 07:05:20 PM

Just received this.  10" diameter and just under 100 lbs.  I believe it is a early 10-Inch Columbiad shell, but it has some weird things going on.  Has a "V" stamp near the fuse hole.   The wall at the fuse hole is 3" thick and very tapered, unlike another one I have here that has a straight-walled hole.  It also has a large chunk of metal along the seam line that I am assuming is a casting sprue that did not get knocked off.  I don't think it could have passed inspection for firing.

Title: Re: Interesting 10-Inch Shell
Post by: 24thMichigan on November 13, 2015, 07:06:52 PM

Additional photos:

Title: Re: Interesting 10-Inch Shell
Post by: 24thMichigan on November 13, 2015, 07:08:00 PM

Lifting ear:

Title: Re: Interesting 10-Inch Shell
Post by: 24thMichigan on November 13, 2015, 07:08:23 PM

Sprue?

Title: Re: Interesting 10-Inch Shell
Post by: Pete George on November 14, 2015, 08:46:27 PM

In my opinion, it is definitely a mold fillerhole sprue.  Also, as you mention, that sprue looks too "tall" to have been passed by an Artillery Ordnance Inspector... but I can't be sure of the sprue's height from the viewing angle in the photo.

Regards,
Pete

Title: Re: Interesting 10-Inch Shell
Post by: 24thMichigan on November 14, 2015, 11:43:06 PM

Thanks for your input Mr. George.  This photo might show it a little better.  It is crescent shaped, 1-3/8" long and protrudes approximately 1/4".

Title: Re: Interesting 10-Inch Shell
Post by: John D. Bartleson Jr. on November 15, 2015, 03:10:10 PM

Does anyone know what the "V" and other stamps mean?
Regards,
John

Title: Re: Interesting 10-Inch Shell
Post by: 24thMichigan on November 15, 2015, 03:31:24 PM

That was my next question!  Here is a better photo showing just how far this sprue protrudes.:

Title: Re: Interesting 10-Inch Shell
Post by: John D. Bartleson Jr. on November 15, 2015, 10:28:48 PM

Where is this projection in relation to the fuse hole?

Title: Re: Interesting 10-Inch Shell
Post by: 24thMichigan on November 15, 2015, 11:06:13 PM

John, You can see it here at 8 o'clock and it is right on the mold seam.

Title: Re: Interesting 10-Inch Shell
Post by: John D. Bartleson Jr. on November 16, 2015, 01:30:51 PM

Thanks you.  So the projection is not 180 degrees from the fuse hole??
John

Title: Re: Interesting 10-Inch Shell
Post by: 24thMichigan on November 16, 2015, 04:16:52 PM

No, it is 90 degrees from the hole, as is the mold seam.

Title: Re: Interesting 10-Inch Shell
Post by: John D. Bartleson Jr. on November 16, 2015, 09:50:54 PM

I agree with Pete it was the vent spru.  I had thought that it might be  a metal stilt to support the bottom of the shell mould.
Still nothing on the "V:, Pete should know.
Kind Regards,
John

Title: Re: Interesting 10-Inch Shell
Post by: Pete George on November 17, 2015, 12:47:44 PM

  Pardon the small correction, John... although I said it is a sprue, I said it is a mold filler hole sprue, not a mold vent hole sprue.

  Unfortunately, I do not know the meaning of the "V" letter-mark. I note that it is not the usual serifed-letter stamped by a letter die -- but instead appears to have been made with the edge of a chisel in two simple straight-line strikes.  That form at least "suggests" to me that it is a Roman numeral V.  We often see Roman numeral marks on various civil war era cast metal objects, such as military belt buckles and sword-guards.

Regards,
Pete