C.W. Smith, G.H. Babcock, B.B. and C.A. Hotchkiss were issued a
patent #38,359 on
April 28, 1863, for an improvement in the Hotchkiss case-shot projectile. Their
improvement consisted of an iron plate, which separated the bursting charge from the
case-shot chamber. The purpose of the plate was to decrease the chances of a premature
discharge during firing. In order to allow this plate to be inserted easily, the removable
nose of the projectile body was developed. As a bonus, this allowed for easier loading of
the bursting charge and case-shot balls. The removable nose piece has two spanner holes
opposite each other near the fuze well. The removable nose is machined with fine threads
that screwed to threads of the projectile body.
