Please help identify

[Duane Pringle]

ok this was found on our battle field we metal detect its brass and as big as a 69 mini ball.

 

[Frederick14Va]

Appears it could possibly be the slider-striker device from an English Britten percussion fused artillery shell, or one similar.

 

[Duane Pringle]

Thank you Frederick we did some research last night and that is the conclusion we came to. It was found in a big Confederate camp. We just haven't found any proof these shells were used in this battle. There were some 3 inch hotchkiss used we have found frags and 12 pound boreman shell frags this battle was in oct 1864.

 

[zburkett]

Fredrick14 is usually right. Could this be the proof that they were used?

 

[UCVRelics]

VERY NICE. @Frederick14Va is spot on it is the inner working of a Britten.

 

[JOHN42768]

One of thousands small items that only those involved would be able to recognize.

 

[Duane Pringle]

Wow never knew those shells were used in this area.

 

[UCVRelics]

Wow never knew those shells were used in this area.

I'm not at home to dig in my books but I seem to recall that the Britten fuse was used for other than artillery ie hand grenades land mines torpedo's etc. It was a percussion striker type fuse so it could have been used for any of those purposes.

 

[Duane Pringle]

We are trans Mississippi theatre here in south west Missouri so I had always thought none pf that stuff was used here but I may be wrong.

 

[Duane Pringle]

Could of they used them for hotchkiss shells?

 

[Duane Pringle]

We have found lots of frags of type 1 and 2 hotchkiss.

 

[UCVRelics]

Could of they used them for hotchkiss shells?

I really can't answer that because stranger things were tried during the CW but I would say Not as the threads are a LOT smaller then the fuse hole in a Hotchkiss.

 

[Duane Pringle]

Hmmm well maybe I will eventually dig more evidence.

 

[UCVRelics]

Hmmm well maybe I will eventually dig more evidence.

I only find 1 button.

 

[Duane Pringle]

Is it general service

 

[Frederick14Va]

Could of they used them for hotchkiss shells?

Highly unlikely... They were different sizes... and different threading... The Britten as well as most English made fuses were left hand threaded.. whereas most all US/CS ones were right hand threaded... Using the Britten fuse in anything else we had here would be a significant challenge. Besides the Hotchkiss had its own percussion fuse type.

While researching your particular engagement might want to check if anyone had a Blakely Rifle... English made artillery gun that the Britten shell projectile was normally used with. I would keep searching the site and see what else may turn up to give further clues.

 

[Duane Pringle]

This item was only 3 inchs down amongt several droped buck and ball rounds. We will keep searching for a further answer.

 

[Schwallanscher]

Wow never knew those shells were used in this area.

if that makes you feel better i didn't even know they existed*

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* that's the reason why i read all those threads - to learn

 

[Jimklag]

if that makes you feel better i didn't even know they existed*

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* that's the reason why i read all those threads - to learn

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