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The Civil War Relicman,
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Winchester, Virginia
USA (changed hands 70 times in the Civil War!)
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This page updated April 03, 2008 |
The Ridgeway Civil War
reference archive
Artillery shells, Hand grenades
This is a sampling of relics collected by Harry Ridgeway over the years. This archive record is for educational purposes only. Some of the relics listed may be on display at the Old Court House Civil War Museum, Winchester Virginia, some are no longer owned by the author. None of the items listed in this section are for sale, please refer to the separate sales catalog for items that are currently offered.
This information is available for research purposes, pictures may be used by permission only.
All items listed are believed to be authentic to the Civil War or as otherwise described.
All artillery items listed have been disarmed and rendered inert.
Any excavated relics have been recovered from private property with owners permission.
A1363
Ketchum 3 pound hand grenade
These hand grenades were equipped with a plunger to detonate the
device on delivery to the target. There was a wooden tail intended
to give it stability in flight. They had to land flat on the target to
detonate, and most failed. Consequently they would be picked up
and thrown back and forth across the trench line repeatedly.
Zinc sleeve for the plunger intact, wooden tail and fin are missing.
Recovered: Port Hudson
Diameter 2.4 inch, length 4.5 inch
Ref: Dickey & George pg. 497
A0124
Ketchum 5 pound hand grenade
These hand grenades were equipped with a plunger to detonate the device on
delivery to the target. There was a wooden tail intended to give it stability in
flight. They had to land flat on the target to detonate, and most failed.
Consequently they would be picked up and thrown back and forth across the trench
line repeatedly.
Zinc sleeve for the plunger intact, wooden tail and fin are missing.
Recovered: Port Hudson
Diameter 2.9 inch, length 6.5 inch
Ref: Dickey & George pg. 498
A1351
Raines Hand Grenade "1 pound"
Hand grenade was originally outfitted with a plunger and tail to to guide it.
They are quite rare because they were nearly impossible to throw straight enough
for the plunger to detonate. Troops tended to toss them back and forth at each
other till eventually one might go off.
Diameter 1.75 inches
Cleaned and coated, smooth example with part of the tail intact!!.
Recovered Augusta River where they were dumped
Ref: Dickey & George pg 499
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