US Civil War Artillery Portfire & Three Original Matches
This item is listed for historical interest only. It was listed on our site previously but has been sold and is no longer available for purchase.
Sold for: $350.00

Original era manufacture. This interesting device was used as a slow burning match to ignite the charge in muzzle loading cannon prior to the adoption of friction primers. This example was purchased in 1951 from the famous firm of Francis Bannerman in New York.It consists of a 25 inch wooden handle, which is cut into four even quarters at one end, with a 20 mm opening, into which the 18 inch tightly wrapped paper match can be inserted. A brass collar slides towards the match end of the handle, compressing the segments together to hold the match securely. At the other end of the handle is a 1.25 inch metal spike, used presumably to clear the cannon's vent hole from debris from the previous round, or, perhaps to seal the vent hole tightly, to make an airtight seal while the next black powder charge is rammed home. Just my guess, as this is the first one of these we've ever owned.There is a black paint finish on the handle at present, but traces of red can also be seen beneath the surface. A red paint finish makes more sense to me, being more readily seen in the heat of battle, as a slow burning match fuze and loose black powder certainly create a volatile mixture.     Overall the set is quite sound, just exhibiting normal age with no damage.