Confederate 12-Pounder Shell with Wood Fuze Plug and Packing Tow

SOLD

Item: Confederate 12-Pounder Shell with Wood Fuze Plug and Packing Tow
Cannon: 12 pounder smoothbore, 4.62-inch.
Construction: Iron.
Approximate diameter: 4.52 inches
Approximate weight: 7.8 pounds
Fuzing: Wood fuze plug for paper time fuze.
Sabot: Wooden cup.
Condition: Very good, excavated. The shell's surface is minimally pitted with a light layer of a black coating. The wood fuze plug, with packing "tow wad"* is still present on one end of the plug. There is a small drill hole in the shell, situated on the other side of the shell, opposite the fuse hole. This hole is plugged with a small section of a wood dowel. The shell has been deactivated and there are no repairs. 
Recovered: Unknown
Reference: A similar example can be found in the following reference book:

  • "Melton & Pawl's Guide to Civil War Artillery Projectiles", by Jack W. Melton, Jr., and Lawrence E. Pawl, page 30, Fig. III A-6. (Note: The example in the book has a polygonal cavity while the one for sale in this listing does not.)

See above page in additional images. 

Comments: While the wood fuze plug can be removed, it has slightly shrunk over time. When inserted into the shell fuze hole, it slides in slightly beyond the surface of the shell which can make it difficult to remove. The use of a small section of masking tape placed around the interior of the fuse hole should remedy this issue. Should the fuze plug become lodged in the hole, it can be removed by inserting a dowel in the small hole, on the other side of the shell, in order to gently push the bottom of the wood plug out. 

*Tow Wads: "Rope-like fibers placed in the fuze plug opening to keep debris from entering the projectile's inner cavity. This was packed into the opening with the rounded end of a wooden tool. This material was removed in the field prior to the insertion of the paper time fuze. Tow was also placed between shells to keep them from rattling around and getting damaged in transport." 

The above definition is from the Glossary section of "Melton & Pawl's Guide to Civil War Artillery Projectiles", by Jack W. Melton, Jr., and Lawrence E. Pawl. This 12-pounder shell with fuze plug will be an excellent addition to any excavated artillery or general relic collection.

Product Code:
PC11617

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