British, Royal Navy, 19th Century, Cordite Carrier (Clarkson Case), with Royal Crest, By Barrow Hepburn and Gale Ltd

*British, Royal Navy, 19th Century, Cordite Carrier (Clarkson Case), with Royal Crest, By Barrow Hepburn and Gale Ltd*

31cm tall, 13.4cm diameter top, 15.5cm diameter base.
Marked on front: Royal Crest, N
Marked on base: No 65, III, BH & G Ltd.

Royal Navy English leather Cordite Carrier (ammunition powder charge bucket) No65 Mk III, also known as the Clarkson case, was manufactured by Barrow, Hepburn & Gale Ltd. of Bermondsey, London. The No 65 likely indicates the size, while III denotes the mark. The large ‘N’ signifies its association with the Royal Navy.

These cordite cases were used to transport charges from the magazine to the guns. Cordite, a family of smokeless propellants, was developed in the United Kingdom in 1889 to replace gunpowder as a military propellant.

The carrier’s body is made of cork, lined with canvas on the inside and covered with leather on the outside. The handles and straps are sewn and secured to the body using copper rivets to prevent sparks. Cork, being naturally fire-resistant, enhances the safety of the carrier.

Attached an image (taken from the Handbook of Ammunition from 1945) that shows the different styles of Clarkson’s cases and containers. Naval weapons website: “British propellant charge container. These were flash proof containers for bag charges (cartridges). Charges were placed into these containers before they left the magazines. The Clarkson’s Cases then rode up the hoists to the guns where the charges were removed only when it was time to load them into the breech. The Clarkson’s Cases were reusable and were returned to the magazines for reloading.”

*Condition*
This is in excellent condition with a wonderful patina and the expected signs of wear and tear. The crest is fairly worn. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.

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