Confederate Adjutant General button	The Civil War Relicman, Harry Ridgeway
	Winchester, Virginia USA (changed hands 70 times in the Civil War!) I am a collector buying and selling authentic Civil War Relics
	This page updated   May 28, 2008

The Ridgeway Civil War Archive 
Artillery shells, Parrott 3.67 in
(20 pounder)

This is a sampling of relics collected by Harry Ridgeway over the years.  This archive record is for educational purposes only.  Some of the relics listed may be on display at the Old Court House Civil War Museum, Winchester Virginia, some are no longer owned by the author.  None of the items listed in this section are for sale, please refer to the separate sales catalog for items that are currently offered.

Parrott 3.67 inch (shell is 3.62 in) was intended for the Parrott Rifle, or the 3.67 in Ordnance Riufle and is generally referred to as "20 pounder". 

All items listed are believed to be authentic to the Civil War or as otherwise described.   

All artillery items listed  have been disarmed and rendered inert. 

Parrott 3.67 inch, flat top bolt, "Read Parrott" wrought iron sabot (Type I):    

A1868    Parrott flat top bolt "Read / Parrott" wrought iron sabot, Parrott 20 pounder rifle, 3.67 in. 
 
The idea of a tapered ring iron sabot was developed jointly by Read and Parrott, this Federal version is thick. These bolts were used against opposing cannon. Sabot is pre-rifled with 5 flanges. 
Fired sabot shows 5 lands & grooves, metal solid light pitting. 
Recovered: Petersburg, Va 
Diameter 3.62 inch, length 8.0 inch 
Ref: D & G pg. 218 

Parrott 3.67 inch, flat top bolt, low band brass sabot (Type III):    

A1869    Parrott flat top bolt, Type III brass ring sabot, Parrott 20 pounder rifle, 3.67 in. 
 
The third development of the sabot, type III, was introduction of this narrow brass ring, softer than wrought iron and thinner than the high band, this took the rifling nicely. These bolts were used against enemy cannon. 
Fired sabot shows 5 lands & grooves, metal solid light pitting. 
Recovered: Secessionville, SC 
Diameter 3.62 inch, length 8.0 inch 
Ref: D & G pg. 229 

Parrott 3.67 inch, chill nose bolt, low band brass sabot (Type III):    

A1870     Parrott chill nose bolt, Type III brass ring sabot, Parrott 20 pounder rifle, 3.67 in.

A solid bolt intended to be used against enemy cannon, the nose was made smaller and chilled to harden, as an effort to concentrate its energy for 
greater force on impact.  Sabot is low band brass ring, type III.  
Fired sabot is intact showing 5 lands & grooves, metal strong light  pitting.  
Recovered: Port Hudson, Louisiana  
Diameter 3.62 in., length 8.75 in., weight 19 lbs.  
Ref: D & G pg. 230  

A2080 Parrott chill nose bolt, Type III brass
ring sabot, Parrott 20 pounder rifle, 3.67 in.
A solid bolt intended to be used against enemy cannon, the nose was made 
smaller and chilled to harden, as an effort to concentrate its energy for 
greater force on impact.  Sabot is low band brass ring, type III.
Fired sabot is intact showing 5 lands & grooves, significant base chip 
reflecting the violence of firing, unusual for sabot to be intact, metal solid, 
moderate pitting.
Recovered: Port Hudson, Louisiana
Diameter 3.62 in., length 8.75 in.
Ref: D & G pg. 230
   
   
A2081 Parrott chill nose bolt, Type III brass
ring sabot, Parrott 20 pounder rifle, 3.67 in.
A solid bolt intended to be used against enemy cannon, the nose was made 
smaller and chilled to harden, as an effort to concentrate its energy for 
greater force on impact.  Sabot is low band brass ring, type III.
Fired sabot was thrown and exposes the Parrott notched base, metal solid 
light pitting
Recovered: Port Hudson, Louisiana
Diameter 3.62 in., length 8.75 in.
Ref: D & G pg. 230

Parrott 3.67 inch, shell , high band brass sabot prototype):    

A1875     Parrott shell, high brass band prototype sabot Parrott 20 pounder rifle, 3.67 in. 

This early high band sabot has no visible rabbets, and is short and thin. Expansion holes were cut into the base of the shell. The idea was that these small holes would encourage expansion of the sabot and this type of venting shows up in other early designs Threaded for time fuse, Parrott time fuse with rounded flange fits it. 
Shell is unfired, Parrott time fuse is removable, metal good light pitting.. 
Recovered: surplus stocks 
Diameter 3.6 inch, length 10.25 inch 
Ref:  sabot style shown for 30 pounder Bell pg. 278
Ref: D & G not listed

Parrott 3.67 inch, "case shot" shell , "Read / Parrott" wrought iron sabot (Type I), Parrott time fuse:    

A1583    Parrott "case shot" shell, wrought iron sabot, Parrott time fuse, Parrott 20 pounder rifle, 3.67 in. 

Called "Read Parrott" because it utilized the wrought iron sabot developed before the war jointly by Read and Parrott, the sabot was pre-rifled with five flanges, because it was too heavy to take the rifling otherwise. This short pattern, when equipped with a time fuse will usually be a "case shot" , intended to go against troops in open field formation, the shell will generally be filled with balls.
Parrott zinc time fuse, early pattern no flanges. The lip of the fuse hole is sharp. (Jones pg. 76) 
Zinc time fuse is partial, sabot with five pre-rifled flanges intact, metal strong, light pitting. Shell weighs 18 pounds and is full of case shot balls. 
Recovered: Port Hudson, Louisiana 
Diameter 3.6 in., length 9.25 in. 
Ref: D & G pg. 219 (Zinc time fuse, short "case shot" shell)  replace this with A2084

A2084 Parrott "case shot" shell, wrought iron sabot,
Parrott time fuse, Parrott 20 pounder rifle, 3.67 in.
Called "Read Parrott" because it utilized the wrought iron sabot 
developed before the war jointly by Read and Parrott, the sabot was 
pre-rifled with five flanges, because it was too heavy to take the rifling 
otherwise.  This short pattern, when equipped with a time fuse will 
usually be a "case shot" , intended to go against troops in open field 
formation, the shell will generally be filled with balls.
Parrott zinc time fuse, early pattern no flanges.  The lip of the fuse 
hole is sharp. (Jones pg. 76)
Zinc time fuse is partial, sabot with five pre-rifled flanges intact, 
metal solid, light to moderate pitting. 
Recovered: Port Hudson, Louisiana
Diameter 3.6 in., length 9.25 in. weight 18lbs.
Ref: D & G pg. 219  (Zinc time fuse, short "case shot" shell) 

A2087     Parrott "case shot" shell, wrought iron sabot, Parrott time fuse, Parrott 20 pounder rifle, 3.67 in. 
   
Called "Read Parrott" because it utilized the wrought iron sabot developed before the war jointly by Read and Parrott, the sabot was pre-rifled with five flanges, because it was too heavy to take the rifling otherwise.  This short pattern, when equipped with a time fuse will usually be a "case shot" , intended to go against troops in open field formation, the shell will generally be filled with balls.  
Parrott zinc time fuse, early pattern no flanges.  The lip of the fuse hole is sharp. (Jones pg. 76)  
Zinc time fuse is partial, sabot with five pre-rifled flanges intact, Shell has been cut exposing the case shot interior. Shell is packed with sulfur or yellow 
matrix.  Note how the powder train on this example is way off center!  Light  to moderate pitting.  
Recovered: Port Hudson, Louisiana  
Diameter 3.6 in., length 9.25 in. weight 18lbs.  
Ref: D & G pg. 219  (Zinc time fuse, short "case shot" shell, sulfur matrix) Cut shell

Parrott 3.67 inch, "common" shell , "Read / Parrott" wrought iron sabot, (Type I), Parrott percussion fuse:    

A1587    Parrott "common" shell, wrought iron sabot, Parrott percussion fuse, Parrott 20 pounder rifle, 3.67 in.    

Called "Read Parrott" because it utilized the wrought iron sabot developed before the war jointly by Read and Parrott, the sabot was pre-rifled with five flanges, because it was too heavy to take the rifling otherwise. If equipped with a percussion fuse, the round will usually be a "common" or standard round, intended to go against opposing cannon by striking them, the shell will not be filled with balls. Parrott zinc two part percussion fuse, "West Point" style, (Jones pg. 79) 
Zinc percussion fuse is intact, pre-rifled sabot intact with five flanges, metal strong light pitting,
Recovered: Port Hudson, Louisiana 
Diameter 3.62 inches, 10.25 inch length 
Ref: D & G pg. 219 (zinc percussion fuse, long "common" shell) 

Parrott 3.67 inch, "common" shell , "Read / Parrott" wrought iron sabot, (Type I) ,Schenkl percussion fuse:    

A1591    Parrott shell, "Read / Parrott" wrought iron sabot, Schenkl percussion fuse, Parrott 20 pounder rifle, 3.67 in. 

Called "Read Parrott" because it utilized the wrought iron sabot developed before the war jointly by Read and Parrott, the sabot was pre-rifled with five flanges, because it was too heavy to take the rifling otherwise. If equipped with a percussion fuse, the round will usually be a "common" or standard round, intended to go against opposing cannon by striking them, the shell will not be filled with balls. This one is equipped with a Schenkl percussion fuse, this fuse rarely used for this shell, (Jones pg. 98) 
Schenkl percussion fuse is intact, pre-rifled sabot intact with five flanges, metal strong light pitting, Shell weighs 16 pounds and does not have balls. 
Recovered: Port Hudson, Louisiana 
Diameter 3.62 in., length 10.25 in.
Ref: D & G pg. 219 (Schenkl percussion fuse, long "common" shell) 

Parrott 3.67 inch, "case shot" shell , low band brass sabot (Type III), Parrott time fuse:    

A1876    Parrott shell, Type III brass ring sabot, Parrott time fuse, Parrott 20 pounder rifle, 3.67 in. 

The third development of the sabot, type III, was introduction of this narrow brass ring, softer than wrought iron and thinner than the high band, this took the rifling nicely. If equipped with a time fuse, the round will usually be a "case shot" , intended to go against troops in open field formation, the shell will generally be filled with balls. Parrott zinc time fuse, pattern with rounded flange. The lip was a late war innovation to prevent gas leaks around the fuse causing premature detonations. The nose of this shell was milled flat to accommodate this fuse. (Jones pg. 77 upper left) 
Parrott zinc fuse is partial, fired sabot intact showing 5 lands and grooves, metal strong minor pitting. 
Recovered: not known 
Diameter 3.6 in., length 9.4 in. 
Ref: D & G pg. 231(zinc time fuse, short "case shot") 

A2095     Parrott "case shot" shell,  Type III brass ring sabot, Parrott time fuse, Parrott 20 pounder rifle, 3.67 in. 

The third development of the sabot, type III, was introduction of this narrow brass ring, softer than wrought iron and thinner than the high band, this took the rifling nicely. This short pattern, when equipped with a time fuse will usually be a "case shot" , intended to go against troops in open field formation, the shell will generally be filled with balls.
Parrott zinc time fuse, early pattern no flanges.  The lip of the fuse hole is sharp. (Jones pg. 76)
Zinc time fuse is partial, sabot with five pre-rifled flanges intact, Shell has been cut exposing the case shot interior. Shell is packed with asphalt or black
matrix.  Light to moderate pitting.
Recovered: Port Hudson, Louisiana
Diameter 3.6 in., length 9.25 in. weight 18lbs.
Ref: D & G pg. 231  (Zinc time fuse, short "case shot" shell, asphalt matrix) Cut shell        

Parrott 3.67 inch, "common shot" shell , low band brass sabot (Type III), Schenkl percussion fuse:    

A1872    Parrott shell, Type III brass ring sabot, Schenkl percussion fuse, Parrott 20 pounder rifle, 3.67 in. 
 
The third development of the sabot, type III, was introduction of this narrow brass ring, softer than wrought iron and thinner than the high band, this took the rifling nicely. If equipped with a percussion fuse, the round will usually be a "common" or standard round, intended to go against opposing cannon by striking them, the shell will not be filled with balls. This one is equipped with a Schenkl percussion fuse, this fuse rarely used for this shell, (Jones pg. 98) 
Schenkl fuse intact, unfired sabot intact, excellent metal minor pitting only. 
Recovered: not known 
Diameter 3.6 in., length 10.25 in. 
Ref: D & G pg. 232, (Schenkl fuse, long "common" shell) 

Parrott 3.67 inch, "common shot" shell , low band brass sabot (Type III), Parrott percussion fuse:    

A1874    Parrott shell, Type III brass ring sabot, Parrott percussion fuse, Parrott 20 pounder rifle, 3.67 in. 

The third development of the sabot, type III, was introduction of this narrow brass ring, softer than wrought iron and thinner than the high band, this took the rifling nicely. If equipped with a percussion fuse, the round will usually be a "common" or standard round, intended to go against opposing cannon by striking them, the shell will not be filled with balls. Parrott zinc one part percussion fuse, "improved" design, (Jones pg. 81) 
Parrott zinc percussion fuse is partial, top missing exposing the slider, fired sabot intact showing 5 lands & grooves, small base chip shows the violence of firing, excellent metal minor pitting only. 
Recovered: not known 
Diameter 3.6 in., length 10.25 in., weight 17 lbs.
Ref: D & G pg. 232 (zinc percussion fuse, long "common" shell) 

A2160     Parrott shell, Type III brass ring sabot, Parrott percussion fuse, Parrott 20 pounder rifle, 3.67 in. 
The third development of the sabot, type III, was introduction of this narrow brass ring, softer than wrought iron and thinner than the high band, this took the rifling nicely.  If equipped with a percussion fuse, the round will usually be a "common" or standard round, intended to go against opposing cannon by striking them, the shell will not be filled with balls.  
Parrott zinc one part percussion fuse, "improved" design. (Jones pg. 81)
Parrott zinc percussion fuse is intact, fired sabot intact showing 5 lands & grooves, metal smooth with minor pitting only, outstanding example rare to get in this condition.  
Recovered: not known  
Diameter 3.6 in., length 10 in. (excluding fuse), weight 17 lbs.  
Ref: D & G pg. 232 (zinc percussion fuse, long "common" shell)              To Do Post to Archive

A2123     Parrott shell, Type III brass ring sabot, Parrott percussion fuse, Parrott 20 pounder rifle, 3.67 in. 
The third development of the sabot, type III, was introduction of this narrow brass ring, softer than wrought iron and thinner than the high band, this took the rifling nicely.  If equipped with a percussion fuse, the round will usually be a "common" or standard round, intended to go against opposing cannon by striking them, the shell will not be filled with balls.  
Parrott zinc one part percussion fuse, "improved" design. (Jones pg. 81)
Parrott zinc percussion fuse is missing, unfired sabot intact metal solid with minor pitting only.  
Recovered: not known  
Diameter 3.6 in., length 10 in. (excluding fuse), weight 16.5 lbs. (empty)
Ref: D & G pg. 232 (zinc percussion fuse, long "common" shell)              To Do Post to Archive

Parrott 3.67 inch, "common shot" shell , low band brass sabot (Type III), Parrott zinc watercap fuse:    

A1491     Parrott long shell, low band brass sabot Type III, Parrott zinc watercap fuse, Parrott 20 pounder rifle, 3.67 in.

This low band brass sabot was final evolution of Parrott sabots, long pattern Parrott was intended as "common" shell, containing explosive charge only, this one is equipped with the Parrott zinc fuse with brass watercap screwed inside. Lip from Parrott zinc fuse is missing, exposing the brass watercap, fired sabot intact showing 5 lands and grooves, metal is moderately pitted. 
Recovered: Potomac Creek, Va 
Diameter 3.6 inch, length 10.25 inch 
Ref: Dickey & George pg. 232, variant as to fuse