This is a simple, yet essential piece of artillery gear to prevent the accidental discharge of an artillery piece. 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 were made of thick leather, about 5 inches long, with a pocket on one end to insert one’s thumb and strap running 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 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.

This one is complete, with matching wrist thong in place, in solid, very good condition, with all seams secure, and just some dust, dirt and a few small, thin brown spots. 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, being a key piece for the gun crew when in action. We show an engraving of a gun from the Washington Artillery of New Orleans in action. Note the crew member on right of the breach with sleeves rolled up and left arm bent as he closes the vent with one of these in preparation for firing a new round.   [sr] [ph:L]

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