Confederate Adjutant General button	The Civil War Relicman, Harry Ridgeway
	Winchester, Virginia USA (changed hands 70 times in the Civil War!) I am a collector buying and selling authentic Civil War Relics

Artillery of the Civil War
Parrott shells (Federal)

All artillery items listed  have been disarmed and rendered inert. 

A1569     Parrott flat top bolt "Read / Parrott" wrought iron sabot, Parrott 10 pounder rifle, 2.9 in.
 
The idea of a tapered ring iron sabot was developed jointly by Read and Parrott, this Federal version is thick. A bolt this small was primarily used against opposing cannon, its use was limited. Sabot is pre-rifled with three flanges. 
Sabot intact, metal solid with light pitting, relatively rare shell, casting shows several flaws! 
Recovered Vicksburg, southern fort 
Diameter 2.85 inch, length 6.6 inch 
Ref: D & G pg. 215             Sold!

A2189     Parrott shell, Type II High band brass sabot, Parrott 10 pounder rifle, 3 in. 
 
The second development of the sabot, type II, was introduction of this rabbeted brass band.  It performed poorly and was quickly abandoned.  
Marked "3" on base to distinguish this 3 inch shell from the 2.9 inch pattern.
Parrott zinc percussion fuse, "improved" one piece design. (Jones pg. 81)  
Unfired sabot intact, fuse missing, threads good, metal solid, minor pitting, 
Recovered: de-commissioned from government surplus stocks.
Diameter 2.94 in., length 8.5 in.
Ref: D & G pg. 225 (3 inch)          Sold!

A0073     Parrott flat top bolt, Type III brass ring sabot, Parrott 20 pounder rifle, 3.67 in.
 
The third development of the sabot, type III, was introduction of this narrow brass ring, softer than wrought iron and thinner than the high band, this took the rifling nicely. These bolts were used against enemy cannon. 
Fired sabot shows 5 lands & grooves, metal solid moderate pitting. 
Recovered: Secessionville, SC 
Diameter 3.62 inch, length 8.0 inch 
Ref: D & G pg. 229         Sold!

A1870     Parrott chill nose bolt, Type III brass ring sabot, Parrott 20 pounder rifle, 3.67 in.

A solid bolt intended to be used against enemy cannon, the nose was made smaller and chilled to harden, as an effort to concentrate its energy for 
greater force on impact.  Sabot is low band brass ring, type III.  
Fired sabot is intact showing 5 lands & grooves, metal strong light  pitting.  
Recovered: Port Hudson, Louisiana  
Diameter 3.62 in., length 8.75 in., weight 19 lbs.  
Ref: D & G pg. 230 $375.00         

A2082     Parrott chill nose bolt, Type III brass ring sabot, Parrott 20 pounder rifle, 3.67 in. 
 
A solid bolt intended to be used against enemy cannon, the nose was made smaller and chilled to harden, as an effort to concentrate its energy for 
greater force on impact.  Sabot is low band brass ring, type III.  
Fired sabot is missing, nice example of base chip shows violence of firing this heavy shell, metal strong moderate pitting.  
Recovered: Port Hudson, Louisiana  
Diameter 3.62 in., length 8.75 in.  
Ref: D & G pg. 230 $175.00  

A2087     Parrott "case shot" shell, wrought iron sabot, Parrott time fuse, Parrott 20 pounder rifle, 3.67 in. 
   
Called "Read Parrott" because it utilized the wrought iron sabot developed before the war jointly by Read and Parrott, the sabot was pre-rifled with five flanges, because it was too heavy to take the rifling otherwise.  This short pattern, when equipped with a time fuse will usually be a "case shot" , intended to go against troops in open field formation, the shell will generally be filled with balls.  
Parrott zinc time fuse, early pattern no flanges.  The lip of the fuse hole is sharp. (Jones pg. 76)  
Zinc time fuse is partial, sabot with five pre-rifled flanges intact, Shell has been cut exposing the case shot interior. Shell is packed with sulfur or yellow 
matrix.  Note how the powder train on this example is way off center!  Light  to moderate pitting.  
Recovered: Port Hudson, Louisiana  
Diameter 3.6 in., length 9.25 in. weight 18lbs.  
Ref: D & G pg. 219  (Zinc time fuse, short "case shot" shell, sulfur matrix) Cut shell each half $200.00

Left side         Sold!

Right side
  $200.00    

A2095     Parrott "case shot" shell,  Type III brass ring sabot, Parrott time fuse, Parrott 20 pounder rifle, 3.67 in. 
 
The third development of the sabot, type III, was introduction of this narrow brass ring, softer than wrought iron and thinner than the high band, this took the rifling nicely. This short pattern, when equipped with a time fuse will usually be a "case shot" , intended to go against troops in open field formation, the shell will generally be filled with balls.
Parrott zinc time fuse, early pattern no flanges.  The lip of the fuse hole is sharp. (Jones pg. 76)
Zinc time fuse is partial, sabot with five pre-rifled flanges intact, Shell has been cut exposing the case shot interior. Shell is packed with asphalt or black
matrix.  Light to moderate pitting.
Recovered: Port Hudson, Louisiana
Diameter 3.6 in., length 9.25 in. weight 18lbs.
Ref: D & G pg. 231  (Zinc time fuse, short "case shot" shell, asphalt matrix) Cut shell         Sold!  

A1875     Parrott shell, high brass band prototype sabot Parrott 20 pounder rifle, 3.67 in.
 
This early high band sabot has no visible rabbets, and is short and thin. Expansion holes were cut into the base of the shell. The idea was that these small holes would encourage expansion of the sabot and this type of venting shows up in other early designs Threaded for time fuse, Parrott time fuse with rounded flange fits it. 
Shell is unfired, Parrott time fuse is removable, metal good light pitting.. 
Recovered: surplus stocks 
Diameter 3.6 inch, length 10.25 inch 
Ref:  sabot style shown for 30 pounder Bell pg. 278
Ref: D & G not listed       $600.00

A1737     Parrott zinc time fuse, with rounded flange
 
Zinc fuse, paper was ignited from firing. This lip was added later in the war as an improvement. A leather washer was fitted around the lip and this would prevent the flame from traveling down the rifling, causing premature detonations. Fuse generally intended for Parrotts produced later in the war, generally case shot. 
Threads can be cleaned, good display or can be used. 
Length 1.76 in., Diameter 1.12 in. Flange diameter 1.33 in. 
Ref: Jones Fuses pg. 77, upper left     Sold!

A1739     Parrott zinc time fuse, with rounded flange 
 
Zinc fuse, paper was ignited from firing. This lip was added later in the war as an improvement. A leather washer was fitted around the lip and this would prevent the flame from traveling down the rifling, causing premature detonations. Fuse generally intended for Parrotts produced later in the war, generally case shot. 
Threads can be cleaned, good display or can be used. 
Length 1.76 in., Diameter 1.12 in. Flange diameter 1.33 in. 
Ref: Jones Fuses pg. 77, upper left     $50.00

A1740     Parrott zinc time fuse, with rounded flange 
 
Zinc fuse, paper was ignited from firing. This lip was added later in the war as an improvement. A leather washer was fitted around the lip and this would prevent the flame from traveling down the rifling, causing premature detonations. Fuse generally intended for Parrotts produced later in the war, generally case shot. 
Threads can be cleaned, good display or can be used. 
Length 1.76 in., Diameter 1.12 in. Flange diameter 1.33 in. 
Ref: Jones Fuses pg. 77, upper left     $50.00

A1741     Parrott zinc time fuse, with rounded flange
 
Zinc fuse, paper was ignited from firing. This lip was added later in the war as an improvement. A leather washer was fitted around the lip and this would prevent the flame from traveling down the rifling, causing premature detonations. Fuse generally intended for Parrotts produced later in the war, generally case shot. 
Threads can be cleaned, good display or can be used.
Length 1.76 in., Diameter 1.12 in. Flange diameter 1.33 in. 
Ref: Jones Fuses pg. 77, upper left     $50.00

A1976     Parrott zinc time fuse, with rounded flange
 
Zinc fuse, paper was ignited from firing. This lip was added later in the war as an improvement. A leather washer was fitted around the lip and this would prevent the flame from traveling down the rifling, causing premature detonations. Fuse generally intended for Parrotts produced later in the war, generally case shot.
Threads intact, good display or can be used, nondug fuse.
Length 1.76 in., Diameter 1.12 in. Flange diameter 1.33 in.
Ref: Jones Fuses pg. 77, upper left         Sold!

A1093     Parrott time fuse, flat flange    
 
Zinc fuse, paper was ignited from firing, this flange or lip was added to prevent gas leaks around the fuse threads.  Fuse has a flat squared flange and is marked "W" for West Point.(mark not visible on this example)
Fuse generally intended for Parrotts, usually larger caliber.  
Fuse is corroded but intact, will make good display of scarce fuse as is or can be cleaned and fitted for a shell.  
Recovered: not known  
Length 2.5 in. diameter 1.1 in., flange diameter 1.3 in.  
Ref: Jones Fuses pg. 77 upper right. $50.00   

A1748     Parrott percussion fuse, improved one piece design

Zinc percussion fuse is actually at least three parts but traveled as a unit, consisting of outer sleeve with a flange with spanner holes, rounded cap with spanner holes, and inner slider. This was an improvement over the earlier "West Point" design with independent parts. This pattern, intended for larger caliber shells is threaded the entire length. Fuse generally intended for larger caliber Parrott shells. 
Fired fuse shows some distortion from firing. 
Length 2.2 in. (plus cap), Diameter 1.1 in. Flange diameter 1.3 in. 
Ref: Jones Fuses pg. 84     Sold!

A1966     Parrott percussion fuse, improved one piece design

Zinc percussion fuse is actually at least three parts but traveled as a unit, consisting of outer sleeve with a flange with spanner holes, rounded cap with spanner holes, and inner slider. This was an improvement over the earlier "West Point" design with independent parts. This pattern, is threaded the entire length. Fuse generally intended for larger caliber Parrott shells.
Threads clean, good display or can be used, cap and slider missing
Length 2.2 in. (plus cap), Diameter 1.1 in. Flange diameter 1.3 in.
Ref: Jones Fuses pg. 84     Sold!

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