US Navy 8 or 9-inch Spherical Shell "Culot" Fragment

Item: US Navy 8 or 9-inch Spherical Shell "Culot"
Definition: See Comments section below.
Construction: Cast iron.
Gun: 8 or 9-inch Dahlgren smoothbore.
Approximate measurements: Weight: 11.4 pounds. Overall exterior diameter: 6-1/4 - 6-1/2 inches. Interior edge diameter: 4 - 4-1/4 inches. Side-wall thickness: 1.6 inch. Bottom-wall thickness: 2.4-inch.
Condition: Excavated, good. The iron is stable and with the exception of being rinsed off with water, it is still in its "as dug" condition with no repairs.
Recovered: Petersburg, VA area
Reference: Similar examples are found in the following reference books:

  • "Civil War Heavy Explosive Ordnance" by Jack Bell, on pages 61 & 63.
  • "Encyclopedia of Black Powder Artillery Projectiles Found in North America; 1759-1865 / Identification, Deactivation and Preservation / Volume V", by Colonel John F. Biemeck, on page 1608, under item 18-8.4.2 and on page 523.

See above pages in the additional images.

Comments: According to the late Peter George, co-author of "Field Artillery Projectiles of the American Civil War", “culots” are a thicker portion of the shell wall found at the bottom of the cavity of the shell opposite the fuze hole. They were only used in US Navy 8, 9, 10, & 11-inch water-cap shells. It has been suggested that the weight of the “culot” was to counter-balance the weight of the reinforced shell wall surrounding the fuze hole so as to maintain the shell’s, center of gravity, however, Mr. George has determined that the shell wall in the fuze hole area is no different than the rest of the shell wall with the exception of the culot. The reinforced area of the culot was designed to prevent premature shattering of the shell from the firing blast. This fine US Navy shell ”culot” was acquired directly from the digger and will be an excellent addition to any excavated Civil War artillery or general relic collection.

Product Code:
PC8557
Price:
$125.00
This brand is available for:
ARTILLERY , NEW ITEMS , GREAT GIFT IDEAS , FEDERAL RELICS , MISC. EXCAVATED ITEMS

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