Photograph showing base of British QF 3 pounder Nordenfelt cartridge, 1898.
The groove around the primer identifies the cartridge as the Nordenfelt design. The Hotchkiss and Nordenfelt cartridges were otherwise identical and both cartridges were used in both Hotchkiss and Nordenfelt guns.
See Image:QF 3 pounder Round with Steel Shell.jpg for complete round.
Stampings on base :

• R L : Manufacturer's initials : Royal Laboratories.
• A within circle : denotes the cartridge has been annealed after firing, with a single punch denoting this has ocurred once.
• F21 : denotes batch number of annealing.
• C FF : C denotes the cartridge has been filled with cordite or ballistite; FF denotes this has occured twice with Full charge. This is the "Life of the case".
• 1 98 : date of manufacture

Stencilled markings in red on base :

• MK VIII : denotes Mark of complete filled cartridge
• WA 778 : Lot letter and number of charge