Ammo Confederate Harding Shell

[J.H. Moose]

I've been wanting a CS 6.5 shell for a while now and finally got my hands on a really beautiful one at the recent relic show in Charleston on January 6th. A 6.5 Harding shell with the sabot still on. It was in pretty rough shape, which was actually kind of a saving grace since it allowed me to afford it. A few hunks of the shell are fragmented and cracked, one or two of which were sitting precariously loose. I used epoxy resin to seal in the cracks and essentially glue the loose fragments into place.

I used Gempler's on the bare iron divots which improved their condition and stopped them from flaking.

I'm overjoyed with this shell and it's by far one of the coolest in my collection.

 

[Cato3rd]

I've been wanting a CS 6.5 shell for a while now and finally got my hands on a really beautiful one at the recent relic show in Charleston on January 6th. A 6.5 Harding shell with the sabot still on. It was in pretty rough shape, which was actually kind of a saving grace since it allowed me to afford it. A few hunks of the shell are fragmented and cracked, one or two of which were sitting precariously loose. I used epoxy resin to seal in the cracks and essentially glue the loose fragments into place.View attachment 494753
View attachment 494754I used Gempler's on the bare iron divots which improved their condition and stopped them from flaking. View attachment 494755
View attachment 494756
I'm overjoyed with this shell and it's by far one of the coolest in my collection.
View attachment 494758

View attachment 494757

Awesome shell! You did a great on the restoration. I'm hoping to pick up one up this spring or summer at one of the shows. I'm trying to stock on the big shells before I get married. She will have to love me and my 13 inch, 140 lb Dahlgren shell

 

[redbob]

Well done, you have a nice piece that's seen the elephant.

 

[History hoarder63]

I've been wanting a CS 6.5 shell for a while now and finally got my hands on a really beautiful one at the recent relic show in Charleston on January 6th. A 6.5 Harding shell with the sabot still on. It was in pretty rough shape, which was actually kind of a saving grace since it allowed me to afford it. A few hunks of the shell are fragmented and cracked, one or two of which were sitting precariously loose. I used epoxy resin to seal in the cracks and essentially glue the loose fragments into place.View attachment 494753
View attachment 494754I used Gempler's on the bare iron divots which improved their condition and stopped them from flaking. View attachment 494755
View attachment 494756
I'm overjoyed with this shell and it's by far one of the coolest in my collection.
View attachment 494758

View attachment 494757

Unfortunately most Harding shells are dug out of salt water environments and that is what happens to shells dug in those condition unless they are quickly and painstakingly conserved. Congrats you did the best you could with what you had and it is a nice display piece that few collectors have.