This is a desk set made up of excavated 3" Hotchkiss shells from the American Civil War. These shells was unique for their time, being constructed of three separate sections. The base, or cup section, and the nose or body section, were held together by a heavy lead sabot cast onto the middle of the shell. These shells had a tendency to come apart in flight, making it difficult to find a complete excavated one. It also made it pretty unsafe to be an Infantryman situated in front of ordnance rifles firing these things! The shells came in bolt, or solid shot, shells and case shot versions. These particular shells are of the case shot variety. It has a brass percussion fuse and flame grooves cast into the side of the shell. When the cannon fired the grooves fed the flame up to the fuse. The set consists of one complete shell, one shell that has the body and fuse only and a cut away half shell. The complete shell has the base and lead sabot, but all three pieces separate. The second shell is of the main body with fuse only. The cut-away shows the case shot and asphalt used to contain the shot. The shells has been preserved to prevent any deterioration. These were all recovered on private property near area known as the Wilderness in Virginia. The set comes complete with the a base showing "Wilderness VA". Here's a great gift idea for the Civil War collector in your family!

Item # AA1030

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