McEvoy received a patent in January 1863 for his “fuse igniter,” which increased the reliability of Confederate shells, which often failed to detonate. Instead of relying merely on the discharge of the artillery piece to ignite a timed fuse, McEvoy adapted the principle of the friction primer. His invention consisted of a wood cylinder holding a lead weight with a fulminate charge inside. The weight was suspended from a cross pin in the cylinder by a serrated wire inside the fulminate charge. The cylinder was then fixed to the top of conventional fuse mounted in an artillery shell. When the artillery piece was fired the propellant charge would force the lead weight down the serrated wire, igniting the fulminate and the timed fuse in turn.

This example is non-excavated and has been deactivated by removing the lead weight, fulminate and powder charges, but leaving the wood cylinder and marked exterior of the time fuse in place in the bottom of the cylinder.

A very scarce piece of Confederate ordnance.  [sr]

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