British Shell Top - Any Ideas?

[sabertasche]

Hi all, I picked this up at the local 2-day gun show. Based on the broad arrow marks I assume it is British, mybe Boer War era. Can anyone help me confirm this?

Greg

[sabertasche]

Here is a side view.

G

[sabertasche]

Finally a bottom view.

G

[AndyD]

Hi Greg,

Are there any other numbers on the fuze other than those already shown?

I've been looking through my books and lists but at the moment I can't find a pic of your fuze.

Does the fuze pocket taper down from the top?

Kind regards,
Andy

[sabertasche]

Hi Andy, no, I don't think it tapers. I haven't cleaned it yet, maybe there are other markings on it? Here is another pic of the opposite side of the fuse, no markings, just a pewter? plug inset into the fuse.

Greg

[pete]

.

Shear pins?, and a period shipping plug?

Nose portion- ogive- from a period carrier projectile?



Pete

[sabertasche]

Pete, are thinking it may be a message carrying shell for propaganda leaflets? Did they have those in 1898?

Greg

[pete]

Carrier projectiles (i.e ejecatble payloads) can be many things:

If it is, probabaly one of the following, if my parts assessment is correct:



Illumination
Smoke
Anti personnel



I could be wrong and it may just be HE (high expl) and that was just the way they put the projectile together... Im learning from the old boys here everyday.



Best,

Pete

[spotter]

Fuze is a No7 mkIII used on a number of late victorian period shells ,yours is dated 1885 and 1894 the later date is likely to be from a minor modification..or even an upgrade from a mkII to mkIII
The following info is from the Handbook On 9pr RML Guns Of 6-Cwt And 8-Cwt 1889
Percussion R.L. No. 7. (Marks II, II* and III.)
The body is of gun-metal; both body and top are cast in one piece, and the bottom is screwed in. A square
hole in the head fits the key by which it is screwed into the shell.This fuze fits G.S. gauge.
The safety-pin (of double twisted wire) passes through the head of the fuze, and is kept in its place by the
two ends being opened out slightly, so as to bind themselves in a conical cup, as shown in the Plate. A
thin disc of brass is then fitted over the ends, and soldered to keep the fuze water-tight. The head of the
safety-pin is fitted with a loop of string, by which it is withdrawn. The pin is not to be withdrawn until the
shell is placed in the gun.
When the safety-pin is withdrawn, the hole - through which it passed, if left open, would probably admit
of the passage of the flash from the discharge of the gun into the interior of the fuze, and so a premature
burst would take place. To guard against this, a small lead pellet slides freely in a recess cut in the head
and closed by a thin brass disc soldered on flush with the top of the fuze. When the shell is rammed home,
the pellet sets back, and so closes the safety-pin hole.
The percussion arrangement consists of a steel needle, fixed point down in the centre of the top on the
inside, and a lead pellet containing in its head a cap of detonating composition. The pellet is kept in
position by a gun-metal guard, which rests on two feathers on the outside of the pellet. On the shock of
discharge, the guard sets back, shearing off the feathers, and on graze or impact, the guard and pellet fly
forward together, bringing the cap in contact with the needle, and thereby firing the fuze.
Mark III fuze, which will supersede Mark II, has a shield of copper placed over the top of the lead pellet
to prevent the brass safety-pin from indenting the soft metal of the pellet, and thereby allowing the
detonator to approach too close to the needle.
Mark II* are Mark 11 fuzes altered to Mark III pattern.

[sabertasche]

Thanks Spotter