Original Item: Only One Available. This is a wonderful example of an Imperial German Hotchkiss round and a first for us here at IMA! The round is totally inert and is unable to be used as a destructive device. It is in total compliance with the current BATF standards set out governing ordnance and is not available for export.

The round stands at 6 ¼” tall with a base width of 1 ¾”. The projectile is still able to be removed for inspection of the interior of the casing. The bottom of the projectile is stamped with a 44 though this is not a date and we are unsure as to what it is for. The headstamp on the casing dates the round for JULI 1888.

A wonderful example ready for further research and display.

The Hotchkiss revolving cannon was a rotating barrel weapon invented in 1872 by Benjamin B. Hotchkiss (1826–1885), founder of Hotchkiss & Co. It was used by German authorities in the 19th century. It was also referred to as the "Hotchkiss gun". Though superficially resembling a Gatling gun, the internals are very different, with only a single reciprocating bolt rather than a separate action for every barrel. It was a built-up, rifled, rapid-fire gun of oil-tempered steel, having a rectangular breechblock which moved in a mortise cut completely through the jacket. It was designed to be light enough to travel with cavalry, and had an effective range beyond that of rifled small-arms.

The 1-pounder revolving Hotchkiss cannon had five 37 mm barrels, and was capable of firing 68 rounds per minute with an accuracy range of 2,000 yards (1,800 m). Each feed magazine held ten rounds and weighed approximately 18 pounds (8 kg). Besides the field gun version, there were several other versions of the 37 mm Hotchkiss revolving cannon, notably versions for naval defense against torpedo boats and fortress versions firing shrapnel or canister shells for the defense of moats. The naval version was adopted by Russia and the United States, amongst others. The field cannon version was accompanied by a horse-drawn ammunition limber, which held 110 rounds plus six loaded magazines, totaling 170 rounds. One example is on display at the Museum of the History of the Brazilian Army at Fort Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro.

A 3-pounder 47 mm Hotchkiss revolver cannon was also adopted by the US and Russian navies in the 1880s. This had five barrels. With 3-pounder and 1-pounder weapons, it is difficult to determine from references what type of weapons a particular ship had. Single-shot, revolver cannon, and (from 1890) Maxim-Nordenfelt 1-pounder cannon weapons were all used on new warships from 1880 to 1910. All of these were called quick-firing or, in the US, rapid-firing.