Questionable artillery items on the market

[cannonmn]

Previously I've seen "artifacts" very much like this one for sale only by one particular vendor from NC who sets up at Mansfield OH, and the Baltimore Gun Show in Timonium, MD. It looks as though his handiwork is spreading throughout the CW relic market, unfortunately, duping many new collectors. When I brought it to the attention of the managment of one of the shows mentioned, they were not interested in pursuing the matter for reasons that don't make sense to me, but then I'm not in their shoes. If there is anything you can do to stop the rampant fake-selling at shows, it would benefit the whole community.

Details and link to site where one of them is for sale are here:

http://gs19.inmotionhosting.com/~milita ... read/10285

[John Holland]

cannonmn -

You stated "The dealer in question has wisely reserved rights to his images and webpages, so I can't copy any of it..." I followed your link and was able to save the pic's in a file.

I agree with you about the handle, much less the ring gage itself. If anything, it looks more like a wrench that was to fit over something with 2 lug ears.

JDH

[cannonmn]

Thanks John, perhaps a poor choice of words on my part. By "copy" I meant "to reproduce visibly in a publication or webpage" which is of course easy to do physically but would be legally inadvisable since the owner of the rights does not want that done without his permission.

Here's some more info-a friend of mine has a large collection of ring gauges, primarily Navy, which you could use for comparison. The following slideshow of them is courtesy of CannonRest, Jim Schoenung, Director. Use password "attack" to view it.

http://s17.photobucket.com/albums/b62/c ... =slideshow

____________________________________________

On 27 November I sent this email to "Relicman" aka Harry Ridgeway. It has not yet been answered, but I will update the discussion when and if it is answered.

"The item in ur catalog: A2562 Sizing ring gauge for Navy boat howitzer, 3.4in

Questions:

1. Where did this item come from?

2. Please give me an exact measurement of the smaller inside diameter of the ring.

3. When was the item manufactured?

4. Why can't I find any other ring gauges that are anything like it?

Thanks Harry.

-Cannonmn"

[cannonmn]

Relicman and Cannonmn discussed this via email yesterday and today the item is no longer on the Relicman site. The genuine shot and shell gauges are fairly rare and it doesn't surprise me that many people, including experienced dealers, can be fooled now and then. I am glad the item went away when the dealer realized it was questionable. There's a very similar one pictured in the "fakes" section of Jack Melton's Civil War Dealer's site if you need to see a picture of this type of "fake" item in the future.