Also known as: proof and inspection.
| Steps | Proof firing, inspection, and gauging of the bore |
|---|---|
| Outcome | Accepted and marked, or condemned |
| Certified by | The inspector's marks |
Assuring the ordnance
A gun accepted into service had to pass a settled process of proof and inspection. After proof firing, inspectors examined the gun for cracks and flaws and gauged the bore for size and straightness. A gun that passed was marked as accepted; one that failed was condemned and kept from service.
This assurance that guns and ammunition were sound protected the crews who served them, and the inspector's marks left on accepted ordnance record that it passed.
On this site
Sources & further reading
- United States Army, Ordnance Department. The Ordnance Manual for the Use of the Officers of the United States Army. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott, 1862.
- CivilWarArtillery.com research archive: manuals, reports, and manufacturing references.