This is a six pound spherical case shot from the Civil War. It measures 3.58" in diameter and weighs 5.8 pounds. These projectiles were used against troop concentrations in the open and at times during siege operations. The hollow of the shot was filled with a bursting charge of black powder and lead balls embedded in a tar/asphalt matrix. At times it would be filled with lead bullets, scrap, nails or any other expedient on hand. This particular projectile was fired from a six pound smoothbore cannon. It has a Bormann time fuse installed. A hole was punched into the lead alloy fuse on one of the numbers for the seconds desired before the shell exploded. When the gun was fired, the flame from the explosion would ignite the powder contained in the fuse body. It timed correctly, the shell would explode overhead and spray fragments and shot down on the troops below. This one has been unfired and still has the wooden sabot attached by steel straps. The sabot was used to keep the spherical round oriented in the breech with the fuse upright. The surface area of the projectile is dark brown with scattered scaling. The steel straps are intact as well as the wood. A 1/4" groove around the sabot is still visible, and was used to attach the powder bag to the projectile. This one appears to be an early battlefield pickup. Unfortunately, I have no information on the history of this piece. That said, it would be a nice addition to your projectile collection.!

Item # AA1151

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