Also known as: ordnance plates.
| Type | Official drawings and engraved plates |
|---|---|
| Show | Exact form and dimensions of ordnance |
| Use | Precise reference for identification |
The measured drawings
The ordnance establishment worked to drawings that fixed the exact shape and dimensions of every gun, carriage, projectile, and implement, and many were published as engraved plates in the manuals. They are the authoritative statement of what a given pattern was to be.
For identification these drawings are invaluable, letting a surviving object be compared point for point against the pattern it was made to.
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: patents, manuals, catalogues, and reference pages.