Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

katana · 31st December 2007, 03:36 PM

Checking the possibillity that this could be a mortar 'shell' I have found that this is looking likely.

1. mortar round shells have two hooks/ loops to aid loading.
2. These 'loading loops' are always positioned either side of the fuse hole.
3. Some round shells have two holes, one is used to add lead shot (which is then plugged' with lead...usually) the other is for the fuse.

I had assumed the chain was 'fixed' at the time of manufacture.....but it is quite possible that this was a mortar shell, that had the chain fitted later....
However, the 's' shaped link that attaches the chain to the ball seems identical to the 'last link' that attaches the 'different chain', seeing that one fixing loop is missing it highly suggests that the chain was looped and was attached to it originally with the other 'S' link (see pic)

David

31st December 2007, 03:36 PM	#7
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Checking the possibillity that this could be a mortar 'shell' I have found that this is looking likely. 1. mortar round shells have two hooks/ loops to aid loading. 2. These 'loading loops' are always positioned either side of the fuse hole. 3. Some round shells have two holes, one is used to add lead shot (which is then plugged' with lead...usually) the other is for the fuse. I had assumed the chain was 'fixed' at the time of manufacture.....but it is quite possible that this was a mortar shell, that had the chain fitted later.... However, the 's' shaped link that attaches the chain to the ball seems identical to the 'last link' that attaches the 'different chain', seeing that one fixing loop is missing it highly suggests that the chain was looped and was attached to it originally with the other 'S' link (see pic) David Attached Images Last edited by katana; 31st December 2007 at 03:48 PM.