johnnie Posted 12 February , 2011 Share Posted 12 February , 2011 This is the second item I have picked up. Again any information would be great. I think the item might be Naval as it has N with the War Department arrow (at least I think that is what it is), and guess the BSA & MCo are the makers, however I wasn't sure about the other numbers. It is 12" tall and c.3" across on the base. Again, any help would be fantastic, Johnnie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnie Posted 12 February , 2011 Author Share Posted 12 February , 2011 And another image. I have wondered if it was for a 6 pounder, but I'm really not sure. Johnnie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyE Posted 12 February , 2011 Share Posted 12 February , 2011 I am not a big gun specialist, but I think it is either a Naval 6 Pdr. Nordenfelt or Hotchkiss. Others will probably correct me. However, the headstamp gives the date, "10 97", i.e. October 1897. Also, the headstamp is "BSA & M Co" which is Birmingham Small Arms and Metal Co. Ltd,formed in 1873 from the Adderly Parks Works and the Birmingham Small Arms Co. In 1897 the company was divided, the small arms factory reverting to its original title of Birmingham Small Arms Co. and the rolling mills and ammunition factory sold to Nobels and renamed the Birmingham Metal and Munitions Co. At that date the "CF" indicates "Cordite Filled" (as oposed to blackpowder), although this was later changed to mean "Full Charge" when cordite became the norm around the time of WWI. Regards TonyE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torrey McLean Posted 13 February , 2011 Share Posted 13 February , 2011 Hello, Johnnie - I believe that TonyE is correct. The 12-in length (approximately 307mm) is correct for a 57x307 6pdr shell case. It is indeed naval. Regards, Torrey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnie Posted 13 February , 2011 Author Share Posted 13 February , 2011 Many thanks for all of the help with this. Could anybody tell me what the other 10 stands for (I understand that one 10 is for the date, but there are two on the cartridge). I was also wondering if anybody could tell me what the 1 in a circle denotes. Johnnie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyE Posted 13 February , 2011 Share Posted 13 February , 2011 The "10" under the Broad Arrow and "N" is the Naval Inspector's number. The "1 in circle" is probably a Lot number for that date or possibly an identifier for the machinery line on which the case was made. Often these minor marks only mean something to the manufacturing organisation. Regards TonyE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnie Posted 13 February , 2011 Author Share Posted 13 February , 2011 Many thanks for clearing that up. Johnnie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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