Also known as: identifying cannon.
| Approach | Type, material, bore, dimensions, and markings |
|---|---|
| Type | Smoothbore or rifled; gun, howitzer, mortar, or columbiad |
| Material | Bronze, cast iron, or wrought iron |
| Marks | Foundry, weight, number, year, and inspector |
Identifying a gun
Identifying a cannon begins with its type and material: whether it is a smoothbore or a rifle, a gun, howitzer, mortar, or columbiad, and whether it is cast of bronze or iron or built of wrought iron. Its bore diameter and principal dimensions then place it in a class and caliber.
The markings on muzzle, trunnions, and breech often complete the identification, giving the foundry, weight, number, year, and inspector, so that a surviving gun can be attributed and dated.
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.