Cartridge head stamp help?

[TQwolf]

My son just bought this shell cartridge. We’re new at this and just learning. The inner diameter at the neck is about 52mm and it’s 280mm long. We think the “N” might stand for Naval, and we think the “1” and “97” might mean Jan1897 but that seems quite early. We’ve no idea about the A II. 

Can anyone offer any help?

[TQwolf]

Has anyone got any ideas? Are we even vaguely on the right lines? We’ll take any help or hints that anyone can offer.

[peregrinvs]

I initially wondered if it was a 6 Pounder Hotchkiss case, but they measure 307mm long and 57mm at the neck. A picture of the whole case might help.

 

As for the other markings:

 

CF - loaded with a full charge

II - Mark 2

/|\ N 10 - naval inspector number ten

A - annealed (?)

[TQwolf]

[TQwolf]

49 minutes ago, peregrinvs said:

I initially wondered if it was a 6 Pounder Hotchkiss case, but they measure 307mm long and 57mm at the neck. A picture of the whole case might help.

 

Thanks Peregrinvs. The shell is def shorter than 307 long, more like 280mm. The rim at the 'fat' end is 64mm wide and is wider than the main tube part which narrows up to the top. We think it's 52mm at neck. That's a bit of an estimate since its been squashed and the diameter varies between 50-55mm. 

 

What about an Elswick 6-pounder? Or is that the same as the hotchkiss?

[peregrinvs]

Thanks. I’m now thinking it may be a cut down 3 Pounder Hotchkiss case. These are 376mm full length and measure 47mm at the neck. It may possibly have been officially cut down to make a blank.