Ridgeway Civil War Research Center, A virtual examination of artifacts of the American Civil War
	Civil War Artillery
	by Harry Ridgeway

Research Center: Artillery4663-Parrott

Rifled artillery projectile, Parrott design, Federal manufacture, bursting shell, long pattern "common" (standard), narrow ring brass sabot, Parrott "improved one part" percussion fuze, Parrott 20 pounder rifle, 3.67in. Projectile was manufactured in the Federal arsenals following the invention of Robert Parrott. The sabot system utilized was a narrow brass ring secured to the base with internal rabbets, referred to as "type III", more flexible than wrought iron and more narrow than the high band, this took the rifling much better than the earlier designs. Some of these shells were configured as case shot, (approx. 17.5lbs to 19lbs. with balls, short, 9.25in.), or as "common" (approx 15lbs. to 17lbs. without balls, long 10.25in.). This shell is a "common" shell, (standard), it does not contain balls, and with a percussion fuze it was designed to detonate after striking enemy cannon or equipment. Fuze employed was a Parrott zinc "improved" one part design, with a flange, Jones, Fuzes, pg. 81, edge of the fuze hole is milled flat. Bottom of shell usually shows a casting sprue which was rough milled, there will often be casting flaws near the base. Projectile measures: diameter 3.6in., length 10.25in. (excluding fuze), weight 15lbs. to 17lbs. Research Center: Artillery4663-Parrott, Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 232. Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery4663-Parrott.html.

A1874... Projectile measures: diameter 3.62in., length 10.0in. (excluding fuze), weight 17.0lb. Sabot shows 5 lands and grooves and is intact. Percussion fuze may have been cut, exposing the slider with nipple inside. Metal is solid. Projectile is disarmed: drill hole through the side. Recovered: not known.

A2160... Projectile measures: diameter 3.6in., length 10.25in. (excluding fuze), weight 17lbs. Sabot shows 5 lands and grooves and is intact. Percussion fuze is partial. Metal is solid. Projectile is disarmed: drill hole through the bottom. Recovered: not known.

A2123... Projectile measures: diameter 3.6in., length 10.25in. (excluding fuze), weight 16.5lbs., empty without fuze. Sabot is not fired and is intact. Percussion fuze is missing. Metal is solid. Projectile is disarmed: open fuze hole exposes empty interior. Recovered: surplus stocks.

A2500... Projectile measures: diameter 3.6in., length 10.25in. (excluding fuze), weight 16lbs. Sabot shows 5 lands and grooves and is intact. Percussion fuze is partial. Metal is solid, with areas of pitting. Projectile is disarmed: drill hole through the center of the fuze3. Recovered: Port Hudson, Louisiana.

A2895... Projectile measures: diameter 3.6in., length 10.25in. (excluding fuze), weight 16.1lbs. Sabot shows 5 lands and grooves and is intact. Percussion fuze is partial. Metal is solid, with areas of minor pitting. Projectile is disarmed: drill hole through the center of the fuze. Recovered: Richmond Petersburg, Virginia campaign.

A3031... Projectile measures: diameter 3.6in., length 10.25in. (excluding fuze), weight 16lbs. Brass sabot shows 5 lands and grooves. Zinc fuze is partial. Projectile is disarmed, drill hole through the open area of the fuze. Recovered: not known.

This is the "Ridgeway Civil War Research Center", a research tool for educational purposes only, and is provided at no cost to the reader. Some of the relics listed are retained in the author's collection, most reside in other collections and are not owned by the author. None of the items listed in this section are for sale, please refer to relicman.com sales listings for items offered for sale. This is a work in progress, I list items as I get to them, there are many patterns that are not listed yet, this list will be regularly updated as I get pictures and descriptions for more items. I will also correct mistakes, so if you see any please tell me. All items listed are believed to be authentic to the Civil War or as otherwise described. This information is available for research purposes, pictures may be used by permission only.
All excavated artifacts have been recovered from private property with owner's permission.
All projectiles listed have been disarmed.

Most information on this page is from:
Field Artillery Projectiles of the American Civil War, 1993 Edition. by Thomas S. Dickey and Peter C. George.
Civil War Heavy Explosive Ordnance, A Guide to Large Artillery Prjectiles, Torpedoes, and Mines, by Jack Bell.
Artillery Fuses of the Civil War, by Charles H. Jones.
Pictures are by the author, unless otherwise indicated.

Ridgeway Civil War Research Center, A virtual examination of artifacts of the American Civil War. Artillery Research center, artillery, click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery0000-Index.html. Research center, artillery, click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery0000-Index.html.

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