Product Code Database
James rifle is a generic term to describe any artillery gun rifling to the James pattern for use in the American Civil War, as used in some period documentation. Charles T. James developed a rifled projectile and rifling system. Modern authorities such as Warren Ripley and James Hazlett have suggested that the term "James rifle" only properly applies to bore field artillery pieces rifled to fire James' projectiles. They contend that the term does not apply to that were later rifled to take the James projectiles in caliber or other calibers, and that those should instead be referred to as "Rifled 6 (or other) pounder", etc. The rifle was created in 1861.
James worked with Ames Manufacturing Company, Chicopee, MassachusettsSo many James rifling conversions and new James weapons were made by Ames that they are sometimes erroneously called "Ames rifles". to produce bore rifled cannon in at least six known variants, also firing James projectiles. Collectively, these are referred to as 14-pounder (6.35 kg) James rifles. The initial type was created by reaming existing 6-pounder (2.72 kg) Model 1841 guns to , then rifling them. This eliminated any deviations from tube wear — a common problem with bronze cannon that had already seen service. The other five types were new pieces, all using the smooth curves of the Ordnance profile and thus resembling the more widely used iron 3-inch Ordnance rifle except for material (in most cases). The first five variants were bronze, while the final type was iron.
The James projectiles were falling out of favor by the time of the inventor's death in late 1862, and the various James rifles were gradually phased out of service in favor of other types. Those still in service often used Hotchkiss ammunition. A key factor in demise of these pieces was how quickly "bronze rifles became inaccurate through wear or stretching or both."
Large caliber smoothbore guns rifled with James system
| 24-pdr (10.9 kg) M. 1839, rifled (48-pdr (21.8 kg) James rifle) | (shot) | ||
| 32-pdr (14.5 kg) M. 1829, rifled (64-pdr (29 kg) James rifle) | (shot) | ||
| 42-pdr (19.1 kg) M. 1841 rifle (84-pdr (38.2 kg) James rifle) | (shell) (shot) |
Several 14-pounder James rifles at the Manassas National Battlefield Park in Virginia commemorate the Providence Marine Corps of Artillery, which served in the First Battle of Bull Run as the First Rhode Island Battery with this type of weapon.
An iron rifled 14-pounder artillery piece, used by James in experiments at Napatree Point in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, is in the collection of the Newport Artillery Company.
|
|
