Identify the Fuse on this Parrot Shell? Also, why was it where I found it?

[Basla]

I found an unexploded Parrott Shell in a stream bed in Windy Run Park in Arlington, VA on Mother's Day last weekend. I took it home with me, looked up info on it on the internet, and contacted the Park Manager the next day to hand it over to him. He was really excited about it and emailed me later saying he thought it may have a tice fuse, which is very rare. An expert had not confirmed that though. I've seen one picture of a tice fuse and it is similar, but doesn't look like an exact match to me. Anyway, he's sending pics of the shell around to experts from the NPS, Manassas Battlefield, etc. to see if he can learn any info from them. In the mean time, I'm dying of curiosity and wanted to see if any of you may be able to give me any info about it?

Useful info:

• I found it in a stream bed (not submerged)
• The area where I found it is close to Fort Strong, Fort C.F. Smith (the Park Manager said at about 1/2 mile away it's too close to have been fired from there though), and is just over the river from DC.
• It's about 9 inches by 3 inches
• I didn't weigh it, but the Park Manager said it's a "10 Pounder Parrot Shell"

The Park Manager said it's very mysterious because apparently you can tell from the bottom of the shell that it has been fired, yet there weren't any battles close by. He said that while the area is close to several forts, they should have only been firing test shots, not live ones. Was it shot from one of the area forts anyway? Was it transported there from somewhere else? Also, he and the other folks he's showed it to thus far had not been aware that there were shells with the fuse off-center like the one I found. Anyway, I am SUPER curious! Does anyone have any ideas about it? If you know anything about the components of the shell or why it was where I found it please let me know.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Family Maps of Hinds County, Mississippi, Deluxe Edition - Grab it through Amazon!

[CSA2K]

Banner nomination submitted!

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Agony and Death on a Gold Rush Steamer: The Disastrous Sinking of the Side-Wheeler Yankee Blade - Grab it through Amazon!

[BuckleBoy]

This is one FANTASTIC thread. I submitted for BANNER as well. What a find.

I will be checking back in to keep tabs on this developing story.

Cheers,


Buckleboy

 

[BuckleBoy]

P.S. I would hate to be the guy who disarms this puppy, not knowing what type of fuse it is, and wanting to preserve the fuse itself for study. Tough task!

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

i voted banner

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I dont know anything about CW explosive shell fuses but as an amateur (or armchair) researcher I would think it has a good chance of being patented. If anybody cares to look I put in the key words "1863 fuse shell". You could also change the date.
https://www.google.com/search?tbm=pts&q=1863+fuse++explosive+shell&btnG=#hl=en&gs_nf=1&tok=x3o-IybNniHe5Ml5eofPPQ&pq=1863%20fuse%20%20explosive%20shell&cp=10&gs_id=4&xhr=t&q=1863+fuse+shell&pf=p&tbm=pts&sclient=psy-ab&oq=1863+fuse+shell&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=175f4542f9ca8cd8&biw=1024&bih=623View attachment 638869

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Here is my wild guess. Could it be? Patent US44588 - IMPROVEMENT IN FUSES FOR EXPLOSIVE SHELLS - Google Patents

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

BigCypressHunter, you saved me some labor in slogging through the civil war era artillery fuze patents. Thank you VERY much for your research. Very interesting result! What is shown in thr Arick patent's diagrams #3 and #8 closely resembles the brass disc in the fuzehole of Basla's shell. I'm still working on accurately deciphering the patent's technical description of the fuze's parts and their workings and arrangements. But unless I'm misreading the technical description, diagrams 3 and 8 show an internal face of one of the fuze's components. If it is indeed what is in the fuzehole of Basra's shell, either a "top" part of the fuze is missing, or the fuze was improperly assembled by the artillerymen who fired the shell. The answer will come after the shell's powder gets removed, and disassembly of the fuze can commence. I and some colleagues are trying to arrange for that to occur. At present I am feeling optimistic about that, because we are communicating with a National Park Service official who currently has possession of the shell.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

By the way, Basla, I too have nominated your find for BANNER status here at TreasureNet. In my professional opinion, it is a one-of-a-kind Civil War Artillery artifact.

 

[Basla]

Things are looking up!

 

[Basla]

DCMatt, here's a neat article I found on Civil War Forts in Arlington. Being from the area, you may find it interesting too.

arlcivwar.net/articles/vol1no4.pdf

 

[CSA2K]

Any updates?

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

The process is underway for it to be "inerted" (emptied) by a qualified EOD professional, and its one-of-a-kind Experimental fuze to be studied by civil war artillery projectile experts, and displayed in a museum.

 

[Retired Sarge]

Voted banner back sometime last week. I am glad to see it will be saved and displayed for future generations. This is another great save of our heritage and history, job well done! Just remember you saw it here first on T-Net!

Mike

 

[Ramitt]

Great find and work trying to get it preserved.

 

[CSA2K]

The process is underway for it to be "inerted" (emptied) by a qualified EOD professional, and its one-of-a-kind Experimental fuze to be studied by civil war artillery projectile experts, and displayed in a museum.

Awesome!

 

[Basla]

Great find and work trying to get it preserved.

Thank you! I'm am soooooo relieved the wheels are in motion for it to be preserved. I couldn't sleep the night I found it because I was worried about what the ethical thing to do with it was in terms of both safety and historical/cultural preservation. I'm glad I was able to track someone down at the park who agreed that it should be preserved, studied, and displayed, especially now that we know how rare the fuse on it is! Much thanks to TheCannonBallGuy for offering his expertise, both here and to the park!

 

[Retired Sarge]

Much thanks to TheCannonBallGuy for offering his expertise, both here and to the park!

Three Cheers for CBG......

Mike

 

[CSA2K]

Three Cheers for CBG......

Mike

Hip hip..

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

 

[NolanTheExplorer]