Also known as: measuring caliber.
| Purpose | Establish caliber to identify guns and projectiles |
|---|---|
| Method | Measure bore diameter or projectile diameter accurately |
| Use | Matching a projectile to the gun that fired it |
Getting the caliber right
Caliber, the diameter of the bore, is one of the first things established in identifying a gun or projectile. Measuring the bore of a cannon, or the diameter of a shot or shell across its widest bearing surface, places it among the known calibers.
An accurate measurement is essential, since projectiles were made slightly under bore diameter and calibers were often close together, so a careful reading distinguishes, for example, a 3-inch from a 3.67-inch projectile.
On this site
Sources & further reading
- CivilWarArtillery.com research archive: manuals, reports, marking references, and collecting notes.
- 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.