Confederate Adjutant General button	The Civil War Relicman, Harry Ridgeway
	Winchester, Virginia USA (changed hands 70 times in the Civil War!) I am a collector buying and selling authentic Civil War Relics
	This page updated   June 04, 2008

The Ridgeway Civil War reference archive 
Artillery Miscellaneous

This is a sampling of relics collected by Harry Ridgeway over the years.  This archive record is for educational purposes only.  Some of the relics listed may be on display at the Old Court House Civil War Museum, Winchester Virginia, some are no longer owned by the author.  None of the items listed in this section are for sale, please refer to the separate sales catalog for items that are currently offered.

All artillery items listed  have been disarmed and rendered inert. 

A1454     Artillery priming wire, long pattern 

The "priming wire" was used to punch holes in the powder bag prior to inserting the friction primer into the vent.
Overall length 17 inches
Ref: Cannons by Thomas, pg 67 

A1456     Artillery priming wire, short pattern 
 
The "priming wire" was used to punch holes in the powder bag prior to inserting the friction primer into the vent.
Overall length 10 inches
Ref: Cannons by Thomas, pg 67 

A1458     Artillery priming wire, short pattern 

The "priming wire" was used to punch holes in the powder bag prior to inserting the friction primer into the vent.
Overall length 8 inches
Ref: Cannons by Thomas, pg 67  

A1459     Artillery Gimlet, Watervliet Arsenal 
 
The "gimlet" has a screw on the end and was intended to be used to remove broken pieces of friction primers from the vent. It could also serve as a priming wire.
Marked: "Watervliet 12 ** "
Overall length 24 inches
Ref: Cannons by Thomas, pg 67 

A1461     Artillery Vent punch 

The "vent punch" was used when the "gimlet" failed, it could be used to drive any obstruction into the bore.
Overall length 5.5 inches
Ref: Cannons by Thomas, pg 67 

A1462     Artillery Vent punch, battlefield dug 

The "vent punch" was used when the "gimlet" failed, it could be used to drive any obstruction into the bore.
Battlefield recovered, location not known
Overall length 5.5 inches
Ref: Cannons by Thomas, pg 67 

A1463     Artillery "grease" or "tar" bucket 

These buckets held grease used for lubricating the bore between firings. Buckets with smaller opening were used for grease,
larger opening for carrying water.
Ref: Cannons by Thomas, pg 68 

A1472     Package of 10 second paper time fuses, Frankfort Arsenal

This unopened package contains five fuses, made at Frankfort Arsenal in 1864. Paper is blue. The fuses would be inserted into one of the time fuse adaptors at the point of firing.
Package is unopened and in top condition.
Ref: Jones Fuse pg. 161 bottom left        

A1473     Package of 12 second paper time fuses, Frankfort Arsenal

This unopened package contains five fuses, made at Frankfort Arsenal in 1863. Paper is blue. The fuses would be inserted into one of the time fuse adaptors at the point of firing.
Package is unopened and in top condition.
Ref: Jones Fuse pg. 161 bottom right        

A1474     Package of 5 second paper time fuses, Frankfort Arsenal

This unopened package contains five fuses, made at Frankfort Arsenal in 1863. Paper is tan. The fuses would be inserted into one of the time fuse adaptors at the point of firing.
Package is unopened and in top condition.
Ref: Jones Fuse pg. 161 middle left        

A1475     Package of 8 second paper time fuses, Allegheny Arsenal

This unopened package contains five fuses, made at Allegheny Arsenal Paper is tan. The fuses would be inserted into one of the time fuse adaptors at the point of firing.
Package is unopened and in top condition.
Ref: Jones Fuse pg. 164 middle.    

A1476     Package of 8 second paper time fuses, Frankfort Arsenal

This unopened package contains five fuses, made at Frankfort Arsenal in 1864. Paper is tan. Although labeled "8 second fuses" the back is marked "8 10 10 15 15", presumably this means that there is a mixture of fuses up to 15 seconds as actually packed.
Package is unopened and in top condition.
Ref: Jones Fuse pg. 161 middle right        

A2259     Package of two paper time fuses, 25 and 30 seconds 
This unopened package contains two fuses, made at one of the arsenals, we do not know which one.  It is a wooden box containing two marked paper time fuses, box is wrapped and sealed and marked "25" and "30", which presumably indicates burning time.   
Package is unopened and in top condition.  
Ref: Jones Fuse pg. 166 top         $75.00          To Do Post to Archive

A2260     Package of two paper time fuses, 25 and 30 seconds 
This unopened package contains two fuses, made at one of the arsenals, we do not know which one.  It is a wooden box containing two marked paper time fuses, box is wrapped and sealed and marked "25" and "30", which presumably indicates burning time.   
Package is opened, both fuses are present.  
Ref: Jones Fuse pg. 166 top         $50.00           To Do Post to Archive

A1988    Box of five friction primers Frankford Arsenal
 
Blue box is marked:"5 / FRICTION PRIMERS / FRANKFORD ARSENAL" and there is an artistic illustration of a primer on the cover. Box is unopened
Box measures 2.25 in. X 1.5 in.
Rare box of friction primers

A1989     Box of five friction primers Frankford Arsenal

Blue box is marked:"5 / FRICTION PRIMERS / FRANKFORD ARSENAL" and there is an artistic illustration of a primer on the cover. Box is opened but contents fully intact (five primers)
Box measures 2.25 in. X 1.5 in.
Rare box of friction primers

A0247     Artillery brass friction primer, short stem 
The gunner would insert this brass tube into the vent hole of the cannon, a lanyard attached to the ring would be pulled sending a spark into the powder chamber to ignite the firing.  This short pattern was presumably intended for field guns.
Recovered: Harry Ridgeway Frederick County, Virginia
Length 1.75 in.
Ref:  Crouch Artifacts, pg. 119 item 4 

A1167     Artillery brass friction primer, long stem 
The gunner would insert this brass tube into the vent hole of the cannon, a lanyard attached to the ring would be pulled sending a spark into the powder chamber to ignite the firing.  This long pattern may have been intended for siege guns, or it could be just early production was longer, later production economized on copper use.
Recovered:  Port Hudson, Louisiana
Length 2 in.
Ref:  Crouch Artifacts, pg. 119 item 4 

A2261     Artillery quilted friction primer    
The gunner would insert this  tube into the vent hole of the cannon, a lanyard attached to the ring would be pulled sending a spark into the powder chamber to ignite the firing.  This short pattern was presumably intended for field guns.  This pattern is made of quilt or bird feathers, presumably a Confederate innovation to save on copper.  
Length 2.5 in approx.  
Quilted friction primer         $35.00          To Do Post to Archive

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