On several other threads there have been discussions on confederate napoleons and their appearance. There have been 6 types classified by researchers.
Type 1 and 2 are early prototypes that were based on the U.S. design (with muzzle swell) but variations in the cylindrical reinforce, breech knob and knob neck. No actual guns of these types survive and there is no evidence the Type 1 was ever cast, but possibly 4 were made.
Here are photos of surviving CSA napoleons:
Type 3
Manufactured by Quinby & Robinson. Likely a transition type, the first without the muzzle swell, but had a band cast into the fore end of the barrel
Type 4 was another transition prototype without the muzzle swell. Two such guns made by Tredegar have been identified (SN 1693 and 1694) and are at Stones River NMP, but I do not have a photo. After these, the final confederate design Type 5 was adopted by Tredegar and all of the CSA government gunfounder's arsenals and foundries.
Type 5
Type 5
Finally, shortages of copper and tin lead to the manufacture of the Type 6 cast iron napoleon. These guns had the appearance of a short, fat Parrott rifle. Tredegar manufactured at least 125 of these cast iron guns
Type 6
Type 6
The total number of confederate napoleons manufactured was at least 535 produced by at least 7 different foundries and arsenals.
Kim
prepares to do some regimental-level ACW gaming.
