Made of heavy brass, these are constructed like pair of dividers and are designed to gauge the diameter of a cannon bore or projectile, with each arm marked with scales in inches and degrees corresponding to common artillery pieces. Steel tips are set into the points of each arm to prevent wear and keep the measurements accurate.

This set has a nice, aged patina and shows use, with some scratches, etc., but the markings are legible. The reverse of one arm is crisply stamped, “U.S. / WATERVLIET / ARSENAL.”

These were probably issued at the battery level rather to every gun crew, and are correspondingly scarce. After the artillery pieces they were designed for went out of use, most were likely melted down for the scrap value. This set shows nicely, would fill a key place in artillery display or collection, and makes clear the role of science and mathematics in the art of gunnery. [sr] [ph:L]

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