Ammo 20-Pounder Parrott Shell

[James N.]

I've posted these photos previously in the Vicksburg thread, but might as well put them in their own designated thread. This 20-pounder Parrott shell came from a Vicksburg antique shop and was presumably dug somewhere around there. It was obviously a fired "dud" that failed to explode, not unusual for these.

The nose shows where it has been drilled out in order to extract the powder charge; below, the cast iron base cup shows where it engaged the grooves inside the cannon barrel, giving the shell its spin.

 

[Larryh86GT]

Nicely preserved.

 

[UCVRelics]

Very Nice Shell.

 

[JOHN42768]

Nice piece, thanks

 

[Tom Hughes]

View attachment 333234

I've posted these photos previously in the Vicksburg thread, but might as well put them in their own designated thread. This 20-pounder Parrott shell came from a Vicksburg antique shop and was presumably dug somewhere around there. It was obviously a fired "dud" that failed to explode, not unusual for these.

View attachment 333235

The nose shows where it has been drilled out in order to extract the powder charge; below, the cast iron base cup shows where it engaged the grooves inside the cannon barrel, giving the shell its spin.

View attachment 333236

View attachment 333237

Beautiful shell!

 

[Ethan S.]

That's a beauty! Dare I ask, how much did it cost?

 

[Seduzal]

Thanks for sharing these awesome photos. But now some questions?
1. Do you know the history of this shell?
2. Do you know where it was manufaceted at?
3. Do you know what side Union or Confederate shot it?
4. Why was it a dud?

 

[James N.]

Thanks for sharing these awesome photos. But now some questions?
1. Do you know the history of this shell?
2. Do you know where it was manufaceted at?
3. Do you know what side Union or Confederate shot it?
4. Why was it a dud?

That's a beauty! Dare I ask, how much did it cost?

Unfortunately, the seller didn't seem to remember anything about it other than it had been a trade, not one he excavated himself; that's a reason I think he devalued it somewhat at $250. (Ten-pounders he HAD found were priced at $350!) it appears from what I've read and been told to have been an early-manufacture Union shell, considering the cast iron base instead of brass like more usual later Union examples. Some of these had brass inserts in the nose to hold a timed fuse but this was supposed to detonate on impact. They seem to have had a bad habit (for the attacker, not the defender!) of simply burying themselves in the ground instead of exploding on impact like they were supposed to.

 

[Ethan S.]

Those ten pounders are tourist priced.

 

[Seduzal]

Thank you James N. for you reply. Although I am not an Artillery or cannon balls, shells expert but I am trying to learn about this interesting information.