Confederate 3-Inch Bourreleted "Virginia Prototype" Read Shell
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Item: Confederate 3-Inch Bourreleted "Virginia Prototype" Read Shell
Construction: Cast iron with wood fuze adaptor and copper ring sabot.
Fuzing: Paper time fuze.
Approximate size: Weight: 6.8 pounds. Diameter: 2.94 inches. Length: 7-1/4 inches.
Condition: Very good, fired, excavated. The iron body of the shell is mildly pitted. A visible mold seam is present and runs the length of the shell. Remnants of the wood fuze adaptor may be still present. The thin copper sabot is present with twelve lands and grooves. The sabot has a darkened copper patina and is nearly complete with the exception of a small "V-shaped" area. A visible lathe dimple is present on the bottom of the base. While the shell will stand upright on its base, it leans slightly due to sabot distortion sustained from impact as seen in the additional images. The shell has been deactivated, treated with electrolysis and likely clear-coated so as to preserve the iron and is ready for display. There are no repairs.
Recovered: Unknown
Comments: According to Peter George, co-author of "Field Artillery Projectiles of the American Civil War", regarding the "Virginia Prototype" shell: "This type (shell) first appears in late Winter 1862-63 Va. sites" when wood fuze adaptors were still being used. A "Virginia Prototype" example, but with a copper fuze adaptor instead, is shown in the 1993 edition of his book on page 257 where he writes: "The CS copper time fuze adaptor first appears in Spring 1863 sites. See this page in the additional images.
This Read shell will be an excellent addition to any excavated Civil War artillery, battlefield, or general relic collection.
- Product Code:
- PC11677
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