Tubes and primers for ammunition

Small guns were fired by priming powder poured down the touch hole (or vent) and ignited by glowing embers or a red-hot iron rod.

Later the priming powder was ignited by a piece of slow match held in a linstock (a stick with a clamp at one end).

[2] The common friction primer is a copper tube, packed with powder, having at the upper end a short branch (called a nib piece) at right angles.

[2] For naval purposes, to prevent the sailors from being cut on the face or hurting their feet, tubes of quill instead of copper were used.

If friction primers are employed when cordite or other smokeless powder charges are used, the erosion of the vent is very rapid unless the escape of the gas is prevented; in this case T-headed tubes are used.

The explosion blows a small ball upwards and blocks the coned hole at the top of the tube and so prevents any rush of gas.

[2] The vent-sealing tube accurately fits into a chamber formed at the end of the vent, and is held in place by the gun lock or some similar means.

For small guns the case contains a percussion primer, usually a copper cap filled with a chlorate mixture and resting against an anvil.

For larger guns an electric primer is used, the internal construction and action of which are precisely similar to the wireless tube already described; the exterior is screwed for the case.

For many years after the introduction of cannon the powder was introduced into the bore by means of a scoop-shaped ladle fixed to the end of a long stave.

[5] Cartridges made up in paper or canvas bags were afterwards used in forts at night-time or on board ship, so that the guns could be more rapidly loaded and with less risk than by using a ladle.

Where necessary, distance pieces formed of papier-mâché tubes and felt wads are used to fill up the space in the case to prevent any movement of the charge.