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CIVIL WAR ARTILLERY GUNNER’S WORM - VERY GOOD
EXAMPLE w/ TRACES OF ORIGINAL PAINT AND MAKER’S STAMP:
This original Civil War Artillery Gun Crew’s Worm,
purchased from Bannerman’s years ago, remains in very
good condition, featuring the original wooden stave.
Employed by the gun crew to service the artillery
pieces, these worms were one of the fundamental
implements part of every gun crew’s equipment issue.
The iron head, measuring 2” in diameter, is full form
with full length prongs and no misshaping. The stave is
from all appearances original to the head, with the
proper swell below the head, is not cracked, split or
otherwise damaged, and retains the appropriate profile
for its entire length of 48 ½”, for an overall length of
54 ½”. The stave has traces of the original Ordnance
Department blue paint visible in the grain of the wood,
of the same hue as was used to paint the limbers and
caissons.
Consistent with the requirement imposed on
the civilian contractors in 1863 by the Ordnance
Department, there is a maker’s stamp applied to the
stave approximately 4” below the iron head. The stamp
is partially legible consistent with the wear on the
wood’s surface, however under magnification and
comparing the available characters to known contractors
of the period, the stamping appears to read “AMERICAN
HOE CO.”, with some larger characters that follow which
may have been unit applied identification numbers. The
American Hoe Company, as the name implies a farming
implement company, was in business during the War and
certainly would have been capable of producing this
worm.
These original implements are far from common and
discovering one that still retains the maker’s stamp is
a particularly nice find. Showing only the most minimal
effects of age and use, this Artillery Gunner’s Worm
would be a nice addition for your Civil War Artillery
collection.
SOLD
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