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

Artillery of the Civil War
Dyer shells (Federal)

All artillery items listed  have been disarmed and rendered inert. 

A0753     Dyer prototype common shell, lead cup sabot, Schenkl percussion fuse, Ordnance rifle, 3 in. 
 
This is the earliest version of Dyer, could date to 1859.  Dyer employed a zinc alloyed cup sabot, shell bottom is rounded, sabot is cast leaving a gap at the top, no flame grooves.  Dyer sabots performed poorly, most were thrown on firing.  Shell employed a percussion fuse, and is a "common" round (no balls) used against opposing cannon.  
Schenkl brass percussion fuse, early version with rounded edge (Jones pg. 98 lower right)  
Sabot and Schenkl percussion fuse fully intact, metal is solid, light pitting.
Recovered:   Atlanta campaign, even though manufactured early shell was apparently held in storage until this 1864 campaign, probably due to performance problems.   
Diameter 2.94 in., length 7.0 in.  
Ref: D & G pg. 144     $400.00  

A2315     Dyer prototype common shell, lead cup sabot, Schenkl percussion fuse, Ordnance rifle, 3 in. 
 
This is the earliest version of Dyer, could date to 1859.  Dyer employed a zinc alloyed cup sabot, shell bottom is rounded, sabot is cast leaving a gap at the top, no flame grooves.  Dyer sabots performed poorly, most were thrown on firing.  Shell employed a percussion fuse, and is a "common" round (no balls) used against opposing cannon.  
Schenkl brass percussion fuse, early version with rounded edge. (Jones pg. 98 lower right)  
Fired sabot intact, Schenkl percussion fuse intact, metal is solid with moderate pitting.  
Recovered: not known  
Diameter 2.94 in., length 7.0 in., weight 7lbs.  
Ref: D & G pg. 144           Sold!

A0390     Dyer "common" shell, lead cup sabot, Dyer time fuse, Ordnance rifle, 3 in.    
 
Dyer employed a zinc alloyed cup sabot, shell bottom is rounded, sabot is cast leaving a gap at the top, flame grooves added, rounded nose shell could be either case shot or "common" shell with explosive charge only.  
Dyer sabots performed poorly, most were thrown on firing.  
Dyer zinc time fuse (Jones pg. 36)  
Fired sabot intact showing 7 lands & grooves, zinc time fuse is partially intact, metal is very solid, minor pitting only.  
Recovered: Battle of Brandy Station, Virginia  
Diameter 2.94 in., length 7 in., weight 8 lbs.  
Ref: D & G pg. 145 ("common" shell) Sale pending!     

A2106     Dyer pointed nose "common" shell, lead cup sabot, Dyer time fuse, Ordnance rifle, 3 in.    

Dyer employed a zinc alloyed cup sabot, shell bottom is rounded, sabot is cast leaving a gap at the top, flame grooves added, this pointed nose shell was designed as a  "common" shell with explosive charge only. Dyer sabots performed poorly, most were thrown on firing.  
Dyer zinc time fuse. (Jones pg. 36)  
Unfired sabot fully intact, Dyer zinc time fuse fully intact, metal solid with moderate pitting.  
Recovered: central Virginia  
Diameter 2.94 in., length 7.4 in., weight 9 lbs.  
Ref: D & G pg. 146        Sold!

A2170     Dyer shell, lead cup sabot, wood fuse, rifled 42 pounder gun 7 in.  

These Dyers were used extensively by the Federal gunboats in the assault of Island No 10,  a Confederate stronghold in the middle of the Mississippi River.  The bombardment was extensive.  Island 10 is no longer an island, it was washed away years ago by the river and these shells are found in the flood plain having sailed well past the target!  The massive lead cup sabot proved to be problematic, it would foul the rifling and prevent the flame from igniting the fuse, to remedy a section of the sabot would often be chopped.  Intended for a wood drive in time fuse.  
Fired sabot fully intact, remnants of the wood fuse remain., metal quality is good, light to moderate pitting.   
Recovered: Island # 10, Mississippi River  
Diameter 6.9in., length 13.75in., approx. 80lbs  
Ref: Bell Heavy Ord, pg. 224          Sale pending!

A2172     Dyer shell, lead cup sabot, wood fuse, rifled 42 pounder gun 7 in.  

These Dyers were used extensively by the Federal gunboats in the assault of Island No 10,  a Confederate stronghold in the middle of the Mississippi River.  The bombardment was extensive.  Island 10 is no longer an island, it was washed away years ago by the river and these shells are found in the flood plain having sailed well past the target!  The massive lead cup sabot proved to be problematic, it would foul the rifling and prevent the flame from igniting the fuse, to remedy a section of the sabot would often be chopped.  Intended for a wood drive in time fuse.  
Sabot missing, remnants of the wood fuse remain, metal quality is good, light to moderate pitting.   
Recovered: Island # 10, Mississippi River  
Diameter 6.9in., length 13.75in., approx. 80lbs  
Ref: Bell Heavy Ord, pg. 224          Sold!

A2178     Dyer shell, lead cup sabot, wood fuse, rifled 42 pounder gun 7 in.  

These Dyers were used extensively by the Federal gunboats in the assault of Island No 10,  a Confederate stronghold in the middle of the Mississippi River.  The bombardment was extensive.  Island 10 is no longer an island, it was washed away years ago by the river and these shells are found in then flood plain having sailed well past the target!  The massive lead cup sabot proved to be problematic, it would foul the rifling and prevent the flame from igniting the fuse, to remedy a section of the sabot would often be chopped.  Intended for a wood drive in time fuse.  
Fired sabot fully intact, section chopped, remnants of the wood fuse remain, metal quality is good, light to moderate pitting.  
Recovered: Island # 10, Mississippi River  
Diameter 6.9in., length 13.75in., approx. 80lbs  
Ref: Bell Heavy Ord, pg. 224 $650.00      

A2180     Schenkl percussion fuse, Fragment of Dyer nose 

Brass fuse slider cap is slotted with a hole in the center.  Distinguishing feature is rounded shoulder, no marks, 10 threads per in..  
Fuse generally intended for early patterns of Dyer   
Dyer nose section with fuse intact, good display with scarce fuse.  
Length 2.6 in., Diameter 1 in. Flange diameter 1.25 in.  
Ref: Jones Fuses pg. 98 lower right         $125.00         

[Back to Artillery main page]

[Back to Ridgeway archive, artillery page]  

[Back to relicman.com Home Page]      [Place an Order]