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   June 02, 2008

The Ridgeway Civil War reference archive 
Artillery shells, Parrott 30 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.

All artillery items listed  have been disarmed and rendered inert. 

Parrott 4.2 inch, flat top bolt, high band brass sabot (Type II):    

A1877     Parrott flat top bolt, high band Type II sabot, Parrott 30 pounder rifle, 4.2 in. 

The second development of the sabot, type II, was introduction of this rabbeted brass band.  It performed poorly seldom is the sabot intact
on this heavy round.
Fired sabot intact shows 5 lands & grooves, metal solid minor pitting only.
Recovered: Virginia 1865 campaign
Diameter 4.1 in., length 9.5 in., weight 30 lbs.
Ref: Bell Heavy Ordnance, pg. 273 

A1598     Parrott flat top bolt, high band Type II sabot, Parrott 30 pounder rifle, 4.2 in. 

The second development of the sabot, type II, was introduction of this rabbeted brass band. It performed poorly and was quickly abandoned, seldom is the sabot intact on this heavy round. 
Marked on the side: "PATENTED / 1861", sabot missing as usual, metal strong minor pitting 
Recovered: Vicksburg 
Diameter 4.1in, length 9.5in 
Ref: Bell Heavy Ord, pg. 273  

Parrott 4.2 inch, chill nose bolt, high band brass sabot (Type II):    

A1599    Parrott chill nose "bottlenose" bolt, high band Type II sabot, Parrott 30 pounder rifle, 4.2 in. 
 
Called the "bottlenose" because of its resemblance to a modern milk bottle, the nose was made smaller in an effort to concentrate its energy for greater force on impact. The second development of the sabot, type II, was introduction of this rabbeted brass band. It performed poorly and was quickly abandoned. 
Unfired sabot intact, metal smooth, nondug, notice the old artwork. 
Recovered: surplus stocks 
Diameter 4.1 inch, length 10.1 inch 
Ref: Bell Heavy Ord, pg. 274 

Parrott 4.2 inch, chill nose bolt, low band brass sabot (Type III):    

A1878    Parrott chill nose "bottlenose" bolt, Type III brass ring sabot, Parrott 30 pounder rifle, 4.2 in. 
 
Called the "bottlenose" because of its resemblance to a modern milk bottle, the nose was made smaller in an effort to concentrate its energy for greater force on impact. T 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. 
Fired sabot intact 5 lands and grooves, metal solid, moderate pitting. 
Recovered: Mobile Bay area 
Diameter 4.1 inch, length 10.1 inch 
Ref: Bell Heavy Ord, pg. 276  

Parrott 4.2 inch shell, corrugated band brass sabot:    

A1451    Parrott tall shell, corrugated sabot, Parrott time fuse, Parrott 30 pounder rifle, 4.2 in. 

Cast for experimental sabot type using corrugated top. Design was apparently not successful, all recovered are missing the sabot. 
Utilized Parrott zinc fuse, probably a time fuse. 
Parrott zinc time fuse is partial, sabot missing, small piece of fragment was recovered from the same site, metal is solid with some pitting. 
Recovered: Beaufort SC 
Diameter 4.1 in., length 12.25 in. 
Ref: Shell is the example photographed Bell Heavy Ord, pg. 277  

A2104 Parrott tall shell, corrugated sabot, Parrott time fuse, 
Parrott 30 pounder rifle, 4.2 in.
Cast for experimental sabot type using corrugated top.  Design was 
apparently not successful, all recovered are missing the sabot.  
Parrott zinc time fuse, with flat flange, marked "W" for West Point, shell
is cast with recessed lip for this type of fuse, (Jones pg. 77 upper right).
Utilized Parrott zinc fuse, probably a time fuse.
Parrott zinc time fuse is intact, sabot missing, shell recovered from salt 
water, metal surface is smooth stable and sealed.
Recovered: North Carolina defenses
Diameter 4.1 in., length 12.25in.
Ref: Bell Heavy Ord, pg. 277 

Parrott 4.2 inch tall "common" shell, high band brass sabot (Type II):    

A1881    Parrott shell, high band Type II sabot, Parrott time fuse, Parrott 30 pounder rifle, 4.2 in. 

The second development of the sabot, type II, was introduction of this rabbeted brass band. It performed poorly and was quickly abandoned. This shell was used by both the army and the Navy, 10 notches in the base to secure the sabot. The heavy sabot would often fail to take the rifling, so often the bottom was chiseled to spread the sabot, or the sabot is thrown on a high percentage of these shells. Most in this pattern are "common" rounds (no balls) even though many are equipped with Parrott zinc time fuse. 
Parrott zinc time fuse, early pattern no flanges (Jones pg. 76). 
Zinc time fuse fully intact, fired sabot intact showing 5 lands and grooves fully intact, minor pitting only. 
Recovered: not known 
Diameter 4.1 inch, length 12 inch 
Ref: Bell Heavy Ord, pg. 279 (tall common shot, zinc time fuse)  

A2236     Parrott shell, Type III brass ring sabot, Parrott percussion fuse,  Parrott 30 pounder rifle 4.2 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.  Top of shell has been milled flat for a flanged fuse.  
Cast for a Parrott zinc fuse, which is partial, fired low band brass ring sabot is missing, metal solid with light to moderate pitting.  
Recovered: not known  
Diameter 4.1 in., length 11.75 in. (nose is milled), weight 26 lbs.  
Ref: Bell Heavy Ordnance, pg. 284 (tall common shot, Parrott percussion fuse)        To Do Post to Archive

Parrott 4.2 inch short "case shot" shell, high band brass sabot (Type II):    

A1879     Parrott shell, high band Type II sabot, Parrott time fuse, Parrott 30 pounder rifle, 4.2 in. 

The second development of the sabot, type II, was introduction of this rabbeted brass band. It performed poorly and was quickly abandoned. 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, with flat flange, marked "W" for West Point, shell is cast with recessed lip for this type of fuse, (Jones pg. 77 upper right). 
Parrott zinc time fuse is partial, fired sabot is intact showing 5 lands and grooves, metal strong, moderate pitting. Shell weighs 29 pounds, filled with case shot balls. 
Recovered: Port Hudson 
Diameter 4.13 inch, length 11.0 inch 
Ref: Bell Heavy Ord, pg 279 (short case shot, zinc time fuse)  

Parrott 4.2 inch tall "common" shell, low band brass sabot (Type III):    

A1880    Parrott shell, Type III brass ring sabot, Schenkl percussion fuse, Parrott 30 pounder rifle, 4.2 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. 
Schenkl percussion fuse, "large" pattern, (Jones pg. 101)
Dated Navy Schenkl percussion fuse fully intact, fired low band brass ring sabot intact, shows 5 lands and grooves, strong metal minor pitting only. 
Recovered: not known 
Diameter 4.1 inch, length 12 inch 
Ref: Bell Heavy Ord, pg. 284 (tall common shot, Schenkl percussion fuse)  

A2149     Parrott shell, Type III brass ring sabot, Parrott percussion fuse,  Parrott 30 pounder rifle 4.2 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 two part percussion fuse, "West Point" style. (Jones pg. 79) 
Parrott zinc percussion fuse is intact. Unfired low band brass ring sabot is intact. Metal solid with light pitting only, rare to find in this condition.
Recovered: Port Hudson, Louisiana.  
Diameter 4.1 in., length 12 in., weight 26 lbs.  
Ref: Bell Heavy Ordnance, pg. 284 (tall common shot, Parrott percussion fuse)

A2097 Parrott shell, Type III brass ring sabot, Parrott 
percussion fuse,  Parrott 30 pounder rifle 4.2 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 two part percussion fuse, "West Point" style. (Jones pg. 79) 
Parrott zinc percussion fuse is intact. Fired low band brass ring sabot 
is missing. Metal solid with light to moderate pitting.
Recovered: Port Hudson, Louisiana
Diameter 4.1 in., length 12 in., weight 26 lbs.
Ref: Bell Heavy Ordnance, pg. 284 (tall common shot, Parrott percussion fuse)