Item Number: F00208

Item Title: Pretty near a must have for fuse collectors -- sectioned 3in Hotchkiss case shot shell with rare fuse

Price: $145

Shipping: Not included

Provenance: US

Type:

Size:

Sabot:

Fuse:

Book:

Location Recovered: Spanish Fort, AL

Description:This half section clearly shows the final type of fuse system used during the war in Hotchkiss case shot shells. Earlier types relied on an iron tube inserted in the end of the fuse adapter to channel the flame through the pusher plate and to the powder cavity. This tube failed a lot because it was small so they changed it to have the fuse adapter instead go inside a white metal sleeve that had a larger diameter tube.

This fuse is not shown in Chuck Jones' fuse book and must've been a late war addition that didn't get much use. The battle of Spanish Fort, AL was right at the very end of the war, and we see these sometimes from there. That said, I have seen less than 5 total in all the shells I have cut and probably another dozen or so of the brass adapters with a rebated end made to fit inside the white metal tube.

It looks like this hit something which jammed the paper time fuse way down inside and undoubtedly put it out at the same time.

An underappreciated, rare Hotchkiss fuse type!