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 29, 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 zinc watercap fuse:    

A1933    Parrott zinc watercap fuse 

The Navy watercap fuse employed a crooked channel so that the flame would travel faster than the water. The fuse consists of an outer threaded bushing, the fuse is threaded into the bushing, the watercap mechanism is threaded inside the fuse, so there are three sets of threads! Originally covered with a lead pull tab, this was removed before firing. This Parrott fuse is made of zinc. Fuse generally intended for large caliber Parrott shells fired from ships.
Threads clean, good display or can be used, inner watercap and lead cover intact
Length 3 in.,
Diameter 1.1 in. Flange diameter 1.3 in.
Ref: Jones Fuses pg.13  

Parrott time fuse flat flange:    

A1973    Parrott time fuse, flat flange 

Zinc fuse, paper was ignited from firing, this flange or lip was added to prevent gas leaks around the fuse threads. Fuse has a flat squared flange and is marked "W" for West Point. Fuse generally intended for Parrotts, usually larger caliber.
Threads clean, good display or can be used.
Length 2.5 in. diameter 1.1 in., flange diameter 1.3 in.
Ref: Jones Fuses pg. 77 upper right.  

A1964    Parrott time fuse, long threaded pattern

Zinc Parrott time fuse was threaded the entire length and equipped with a flat flange. Fuse was intended generally for 20 and 30 pounder Parrotts.
Threads clean, good display or can be used.
Length 2.3 in., Diameter 1.1in. flange diameter 1.3 in.
Ref: Jones Fuses pg. 77 bottom 

Parrott time "West Point" style:    

A1991    Parrott percussion fuse, "West Point" style

This early two part Parrott percussion fuse involved a cap screwed onto the shell, with the slider inside working independently. The system did not work very well and Parrott quickly moved to the "improved " fuse which contained all the parts as a unit.
There are three types of heads, all have spanner holes:
Rounded top flanged head, tall head diameter 1.1 in., height .95 in.
Rounded top flanged head, short head diameter 1.1 in., height .75 in.
Rounded top, no flanges, tall head diameter 1.1 in., height .85 in
There are two types of sliders:
Base with flange, iron nipple, height 1.2 in.
Base with no flange, iron nipple, height .7 in.
Ref: Jones Fuse pg. 79 & 80.  

Parrott percussion fuse, "improved" one piece design:    

A1968    Parrott percussion fuse, improved one piece design

Zinc percussion fuse is actually at least three parts but traveled as a unit, consisting of outer sleeve with a flange with spanner holes, rounded cap with spanner holes, and inner slider. This was an improvement over the earlier "West Point" design with independent parts. This pattern, is the early pattern and threaded part of the length. Fuse generally intended for larger caliber Parrott shells.
Threads clean, good display or can be used.
Length 2.2 in. (plus cap), Diameter 1.1 in. Flange diameter 1.3 in.
Ref: Jones Fuses pg. 81  

A1969    Parrott percussion fuse, improved one piece design

Zinc percussion fuse is actually at least three parts but traveled as a unit, consisting of outer sleeve with a flange with spanner holes, rounded cap with spanner holes, and inner slider. This was an improvement over the earlier "West Point" design with independent parts. This pattern, is threaded the entire length. Fuse generally intended for larger caliber Parrott shells.
Threads clean, good display or can be used.
Length 2.2 in. (plus cap), Diameter 1.1 in. Flange diameter 1.3 in.
Ref: Jones Fuses pg. 84  

A1967    Parrott percussion fuse, improved one piece design

Zinc percussion fuse is actually at least three parts but traveled as a unit, consisting of outer sleeve with a flange with spanner holes, rounded cap with spanner holes, and inner slider. This was an improvement over the earlier "West Point" design with independent parts. This pattern, is threaded the entire length. Fuse generally intended for larger caliber Parrott shells.
Fuse is split, anvil cap and slider are fully intact and displayed.
Length 2.2 in. (plus cap), Diameter 1.1 in. Flange diameter 1.3 in.
Ref: Jones Fuses pg. 84