This is a simple, yet essential piece of artillery gear to prevent the accidental discharge of an artillery round. Among the duties of artilleryman “Number Three” on a gun crew was closing off the gun’s vent to prevent any remaining embers from a previous cloth cartridge bag flaring up as a new round was loaded. The thumbstall was essential: made of thick leather, about 5 inches long, with a pocket on one end to insert one’s thumb and a long strap to run back over the top of the hand, where a simple thong passing through a slit would be knotted around the wrist to keep it in place. The underside of the thumb pocket was was given an extra layer, both to better seal the vent and protect the artilleryman’s thumb from the hot metal of a just-fired cannon.

These are very plain, simply constructed, and have a very low survival rate. They hard to find on the loose, but are an essential piece in an artillery display. This one is complete, with matching wrist thong in place and all seams secure, and in excellent condition showing just some dust and dirt with no apologies to be made.  [sr] [ph:L]

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