Caliber
- The inside diameter of the barrel. Usually stated in hundredths of an inch for small arms. Measured in inches for artillery.
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Canister
- For field service, consists of a tin cylinder attached to a sabot and filled with cast iron shot. For siege and garrison guns, the bottom is of cast iron, and the cover of sheet iron with a handle made of iron wire. (See Sabot)*
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Cannelure
- A notch cut into the body of a bullet around its circumference to hold lubricant and thought to aid in flight. See also “ring” and “groove.”
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Caps
- Percussion caps for small arms are formed by a machine that cuts a star or blank from the sheet of copper, and transfers it to a die in which the cap is shaped by means of a punch. The powder with which caps are charged consists of fulminate of mercury, mixed with half its weight of saltpetre.*
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Carbine
- The carbine is the shoulder arm of the cavalry. Because it was intended to be carried, and if necessary, used on horseback, the average length of the Civil War carbine was 39 inches. Loading a muzzleloading arm when on horseback is extremely difficult, if not almost impossible. For this reason most inventions of breechloading weapons were carbines. An inventor wishing to sell a new breechloading arm had a much better chance to do so if it was offered for cavalry use.
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Collodion
- A flammable liquid coating used on some small arms cartridge cases to make them waterproof. Also frequently used as a means to reinforce the joint between the bullet and the powder charge. Made by dissolving nitrated cellulose in a mixture of alcohol and ether.
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Culot
- An iron cylindrical cup shaped object inserted into the base of a lead conical ball musket projectile. Upon firing, the culot would be driven into the cavity of the bullet, causing it to expand and engage the rifling of the barrel.
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*
definitions from "Military Dictionary", Col. H.L. Scott, 1861
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