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


Civil War Artillery
by Harry Ridgeway


Research Center: Artillery5333-Schenkl
Rifled artillery projectile, Schenkl design, Federal manufacture, bursting shell, "common" (standard), short pattern with grooved tail, paper sleeve sabot, Schenkl percussion fuze, rifled 6 pounder smoothbore, 3.67 in.
Projectile was manufactured in the Federal arsenals, following the design of John P. Schenkl. The sabot system consisted of a "forcing cone" paper sleeve, which was intended to expand into the rifling, then flutter away on release. Problems with the paper absorbing moisture or swelling and blocking passage of the flame on firing rendered it impractical with time fuzes and so it saw limited application. This short pattern was intended for the rifled six pounder and has six grooved ribs to secure the sabot. Usually this pattern is a "common" or standard round and will not be filled with balls , and with a percussion fuze it was designed to detonate after striking enemy cannon or equipment. Fuze employed was a Schenkl Army percussion fuze , removable cap had a slider and percussion cap, head is 1.22in.or 1.25in., 10 threads per inch, marked "JP SCHENKL / PAT OCT 16 1861", Jones pg. 98 or 99., top of the fuze hole is milled flat. Projectile measures: diameter 3.6in., length 8.5in. (excluding the fuze), weight 10lbs.
Research Center: Artillery5333-Schenkl, Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 307.

Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery5333-Schenkl.html.


A1149...Rifled artillery projectile, Schenkl design, Federal manufacture, bursting shell, "common" (standard), short pattern with grooved tail, paper sleeve sabot, Schenkl percussion fuze, rifled 6 pounder smoothbore, 3.67 in.

Projectile was manufactured in the Federal arsenals, following the design of John P. Schenkl. The sabot system consisted of a "forcing cone" paper sleeve, which was intended to expand into the rifling, then flutter away on release. Problems with the paper absorbing moisture or swelling and blocking passage of the flame on firing rendered it impractical with time fuzes and so it saw limited application. This short pattern was intended for the rifled six pounder and has six grooved ribs to secure the sabot. Usually this pattern is a "common" or standard round and will not be filled with balls , and with a percussion fuze it was designed to detonate after striking enemy cannon or equipment. Fuze employed was a Schenkl Army percussion fuze , removable cap had a slider and percussion cap, head is 1.22in.or 1.25in., 10 threads per inch, marked "JP SCHENKL / PAT OCT 16 1861", Jones pg. 98 or 99., top of the fuze hole is milled flat. Projectile measures: diameter 3.6in., length 8.5in. (excluding the fuze), weight 10.4lbs. Schenkl percussion fuze is intact. Projectile is disarmed, drill hole through the side. Recovered: Port Hudson, Louisiana, by Emile Mancuso.
Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 307.

A1842...Rifled artillery projectile, Schenkl design, Federal manufacture, bursting shell, "common" (standard), short pattern with grooved tail, paper sleeve sabot, Schenkl percussion fuze, rifled 6 pounder smoothbore, 3.67 in.
Projectile was manufactured in the Federal arsenals, following the design of John P. Schenkl. The sabot system consisted of a "forcing cone" paper sleeve, which was intended to expand into the rifling, then flutter away on release. Problems with the paper absorbing moisture or swelling and blocking passage of the flame on firing rendered it impractical with time fuzes and so it saw limited application. This short pattern was intended for the rifled six pounder and has six grooved ribs to secure the sabot. Usually this pattern is a "common" or standard round and will not be filled with balls , and with a percussion fuze it was designed to detonate after striking enemy cannon or equipment. Fuze employed was a Schenkl Army percussion fuze , removable cap had a slider and percussion cap, head is 1.22in.or 1.25in., 10 threads per inch, marked "JP SCHENKL / PAT OCT 16 1861", Jones pg. 98 or 99., top of the fuze hole is milled flat. Projectile measures: diameter 3.6in., length 8.5in. (excluding the fuze), weight 10lbs. Schenkl percussion fuze is removable. Projectile is disarmed, removable fuze exposes empty interior. Recovered: Port Hudson, Louisiana.
Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 307.


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
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