BRITISH ARTILLERY CRATE FOR 9-POUND SOLID SHOT

$1,500.00

Quantity Available: 1

Item Code: 2024-1155

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The smooth-bore, muzzle-loading 9-pounder cannon was a standard British field-piece in service from 1805 to 1881, with a maximum range of about 1,400 yards and notable service in the Napoleonic Wars and War of 1812. It also shows up in Naval usage from an earlier date. As with U.S. artillery of the period it could fire several different projectiles. This crate was for the solid shot used in the piece and giving it its weight designation. The crate is complete with lid and rope handles, was designed to hold twelve solid shot. It shows use, with some narrow cracks, stains, and pressure dents, and a hole in the bottom near one end, but is solid, with natural color and legible markings. Overall the crate measures 27 3/4" long, 10" wide, and 7" tall.

The top has a nice, clear period stencil reading “Quebec,” likely indicating it was stored at or destined for an arsenal there, though we cannot entirely rule out reference to the HMS Quebec of 1781, a 32-gun frigate in service to 1812, which might have had “long nines” as chase guns. One end is stenciled, “ROUND SHOT / 9 PR N0 12” in large figures, with smaller stencils near one edge reading, “6/58” and “Ex 11/65” which we assume to be dates at which the contents were inspected, leading us more the city and field gun use than the ship. (We note in passing that the former marking could be 6/5S and the latter appears to have a letter following EX.) The other end shows stamps in the edges of the side boards, one clearly the War Department stamp “W[arrow]D” and the other apparently “RE” over the upper edge of another War Department W[arrow]D stamp.

Artillery ammunition crates are scarce. Like most military wood crates of the period they likely ended up used for other purposes or simply tossed on a campfire. This was solidly built with the planks and top screw fastened, with those on the top now, naturally, missing. The lid was carefully mortised at either end to fit around two vertical posts for greater stability and sturdiness. The underside shows some water damage near the hole, likely having weakened the wood and caused the hole from the weight of the one of the shot, but the crate is structurally sound. Five uniform holes were drilled along the center line of the bottom, perhaps for posts or dividers, but more likely for simple drainage with the interior stuffed with tow or something similar to keep the shot in place.

This shows very well and would make a great addition to an artillery projectile collection or display.  [sr][ph:m]

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