Artillery / Shells

The Ultra-RARE CS King of "Heavy Metal"! 

THE Perfect, Complete, UN-FIRED 6.4" CS "Flat-Top" Mullane Bolt for 6.4" Brooke Cannon or Rifled 32-Pounder Guns

Excellent Removable Type II Copper Sabot Disk (3-studs) marked "2", Original Screw

Perfect Lathe Chock Hole on the "Flat-Top" that was used when the Bourrelets were Milled

12" Long Bolt, Total Length w/Sabot 13.5"

IF you want the BEST in Confederate pieces, especially artillery projectiles...you KNOW you can always find them here eventually!  CHECK THIS OUT!  This is the UNDISPUTED "KING" of CONFEDERATE "HEAVY METAL"!!!  This UN-FIRED Confederate ultra-rare, "Holy Grail", Confederate 6.4" Mullane (wartime documentation refers to this pattern as the "Tennessee sabot" pattern) FLAT-TOP solid-shot Bolt, with the original, SUPERB 3-stud copper sabot disk (marked "2" from the foundry), in which the original iron square bolt EASILY screws in and out with the greatest of ease!  I personally do not even know of another 6.4" "Flat-Top" Mullane that is UN-FIRED...ANYWHERE!  The metal is EXCELLENT CONDITION, almost in the same condition it was made/sand-cast molded around 150 years ago!  You can see the sand-casting all around the shell--that is NOT "ground-action"...that's the course wet-sand casting you see mostly upon the surface!  Only MINOR ground action, and obviously a "battlefield pick-up" or very early-found specimen.  The top of the "Flat-Top" shows the lathe chock hole, where they chocked it in a lathe to mill the top and bottom bourrelets.  These were fired from the Selma Arsenal-made 6.4" Brooke guns, or from a rifled 32-Pounders.  With the Iron bolt being exactly 12" long, it's total length is 13.5" long with the sabot attached.  You can still see the lathe milling on the side of the sabot!

Seriously...THIS IS IT...as RARE as they come...THE BEST EVER...you will NEVER find one better....EVER!

$2698 (not counting shipping)

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A Real Monster of "Heavy Metal"!

One BIG, BLACK, SLICK "Iron Death" Shell

THE 200# Parrott Shell

100% Complete, Gorgeous Full Brass Sabot & Pewter Screw-In Fuze Adaptor

Ohhhh....I would NEVER want to be on the "receiving end" of this 200# Parrott Shell, fired from a rifled 8" gun!  I'm no coward...but if you fired enough of these "Iron Maidens" of DEATH with deadly accuracy at me....I don't think I could stand the concussion, let alone TERROR of the explosions from these gargantuan iron scythes!  Measuring-in at just under 8" in diameter (fired, again, for an 8" Rifled cannon), and 16.5" long (not counting the fuze) this SLICK, BLACK BEAUTY is truly awe-inspiring.  It's massivity alone would draw everyone's attention in your "war room"!  And when I say "slick"...it's as slick as a baby's bottom!  The 100% GORGEOUSLY INTACT brass sabot is completely intact, and there is NO PITTING upon the iron surface.  It was drilled-through and deactivated through the base/bottom of the shell , and then filled-in with JB Weld.  Though we do NOT know where this specimen was recovered, it was an EARLY-DUG specimen from the early 1960's, and bears an old collector's or museum demarcation of an encircled #118.  Now, this BEAST is fired...and it did HIT SOMETHING--we know this because whatever it hit, it put a small dent into the small edge of the big pewter fuze adaptor, AND put a dent in the solid-cast nose of the projectile.  Obviously, it hit something made or IRON, and WOOD fortifications would NOT have the "Newtons of force" able to DENT solid cast-iron.  My Physics/Engineering degree and work experience confirm this with ease.  It hit some ARMORED ironclad or armored fortification (some CS fortifications and iron-clads used railroad ties for their "armored" protection).  Regardless, this in one MEAN-MOTHER, MONSTROUS piece of rare artillery that would make an equally ENORMOUS appeal and addition to your collection!

$1098  NOT COUNTING SHIPPING/PICK-UP

SALE PENDING!

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Confederate HEAVY METAL from Petersburg!

Blown CS Siege Cannon, Excavated Decades Ago From CS Gun Emplacement at Petersburg

Over 4 FEET of Barrel and Breech

Appears to be a 32-Pounder Tredegar (based upon the Archetypical Tredegar design of Reinforced/Swelled Breech)

My buddy in North Carolina has collected TONS of stuff over the decades--and speaking of "tonnage", what he is offering for sale is the RARE OPPORTUNITY to own REAL CONFEDERATE CANNON pieces...without spending the $75,000 price tag, and all the WEIGHT of a complete CS cannon tube.  And THIS ONE you will NEVER HAVE TO GUESS whether it was actually USED IN BATTLE!  Clearly experiencing "catastrophic failure" with the breech exploding, under the heavy duress of the continual, meat-grinding Petersburg Siege, coupled with the Confederacy's poorer quality of production and design, MANY Confederate-made cannon experienced such a fate...one that was obviously costly to the men manning the pieces.  Even General Robert E. Lee, while in charge of the South Carolina Department in early 1862, was at the test-firing of a Confederate-made seacoast cannon whose breech exploded, killing some of his staff and the cannoneers...but sparing our beloved general.  Based upon the breech's FAT, reinforced design at the breech, it conforms perfectly to the KNOWN Tredegar Foundry of Richmond design that they finally adopted to minimize such breech failures (early iron tubes of every caliber proved that the breeched were not sturdy enough to handle the force, so even the 1862-made 12-pound iron field howitzer I sold earlier this year has the same reinforced breech).  One can only imagine that a HEAVY SIEGE CANNON would require even MORE breech metal...but they didn't "band" the breeches like the true "Parrott" design...just a reinforced swelling, much like the US 3" ordnance rifle design.  Here's over 4' of CS HEAVY METAL, that BLEW while counter-battery firing or into attacking Federal lines at Petersburg.  You'll NEVER have to GUESS whether it was REALLY USED IN BATTLE!  Since an 8" ball appears slightly larger than the bore diameter (it's pictured with a 12# cannonball and an 8" cannonball), it's probably a 32-Pounder.

In any case, it's a KILLER grouping of Confederate and Petersburg History, at a fraction of the cost, space, and hassle of owning an ENTIRE Confederate cannon tube!

$2298

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Original 3" US Ordnance Rifle on Repro Carriage

EARLY Produced ("JAN 16, 1863") Phoenix Iron Company of Phoenixville, PA

US 3" Ordnance Rifles were Only Patented in Dec. 1862!

Crisply Marked, Including the Inspector Initials "TTSL" (which stands for "Theodore Thadeaus Sobibski Laidley")

Authentic Reproduction Wooden Carriage w/Authentic Reproduction Accouterments/Gear as Shown

Wanna REALLY "make an impression" with YOUR COLLECTION!?!?  Then do so--not with a "bang"--but a "BOOM" that will shatter the glass of every windows in your house and your neighbors!  This "war-changing" Federal wartime designed and produced en-masse 3" RIFLED "Ordnance" cannon was produced and issued into the field in ALL THEATERS as FAST as they could forge, finish, and equip the awaiting Federal batteries--giving them the ability to "reach out and KILL SOMEONE" at miles, with ACCURACY.  It was simpler in design and production than the renown "Parrott" rifled cannon, and just as deadly.  Southern field batteries had to depend primarily upon smoothbores (range up to a mile), with the rare luxury of their own produced, or captured, or scant imported RIFLED cannon to respond to the later campaigns/"juggernaughts" of the Federal armies in Georgia and Virginia by 1864.  The accuracy of these Federal rifled cannon in FORCE and NUMBERS can be attested to by CS General Polk himself--who was killed upon Pine Mountain, GA during the Atlanta Campaign when Federal gunner's by General Sherman with 3" rifled cannon spotted in the far distance, a group of CS officers...and Sherman DIRECTED THEM to FIRE upon the band of Confederate officer's so far away atop the small mountain.  CS General Polk--if he could speak--would CONFIRM the DEADLY ACCURACY of these cannon!

This specimen is a VERY EARLY PRODUCTION specimen, bearing the production date of January 16th, 1863, produced by the Phoenix Iron Company of Phoenixville, PA.  The 3" US Ordnance Rifle had ONLY been patented in December of 1862!  This specific specimen offered for sale here was purchased from the Griswold, Iowa Legion Post YEARS ago--and coming from SO FAR out in the "Western Theater", one can EASILY "bet the ranch" that this was indeed a WESTERN THEATER-used cannon.  I just can't see a small, simply Legion Post in the middle of Griswold, Iowa purchasing and having hauled this tube from WAY out east..."just don't make sense"...since SO MANY Western Theater batteries (including Iowa batteries" were ARMED with these 3" Ordnance Rifles.

It rests upon a BEAUTIFUL, authentic, "to-scale" reproduction wooden carriage with the authentic reproduction cannon accouterments/implements as shown.  The muzzle bears the CRISP MARKINGS of  "T.T.S.L." (the inspector markings of Theodore Thadeaus Sobibski Laidley), the "816 lbs" tube weight, "No. 562", and Phoenix Iron Company maker-mark of "P.I.Co".  The sides bear the December patent date, as well as the "PHOENIX/IRON CO" markings.  And as always...the beautifully clear/visible "US" upon the top of the tube!

THIS INCREDIBLE "PIECE" of HISTORY can BE DELIVERED on the way to the Dalton Show--in a MERE 8 DAYS--if you live along his (the owner/consignor) route of travelling.

$42,000  SOLD!!!!

Delivery IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE

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Original CS 12# Iron Field Howitzer

Produced by Tredegar Foundry/J. R. Anderson & Company

Tube #1602, 1862 Production, Delivered August 22, 1862

Have Copy of Original J. R. Anderson Receipt (see below)

Can Narrow down to TWO Batteries--& Confident we know THE BATTERY Issued To

It is my great honor and pleasure to present to you (under consignment) this truly phenomenal piece of history.  This is indeed "end-of-the-road" fine...rare...and so historically significant.  This 1862 produced (and marked so on the tube--see pic below) is numbered #1602, and according to the original surviving J. R. Anderson & Company/Tredegar Foundry receipt, it (along with other cannon and implements--see the receipt below) was delivered on August 22, 1862, at the cost of $165 CS dollars.  The iron tube is of the improved re-design by Anderson/Tredegar, where previous 1861/early 1862 specimens experienced HIGH RATES of catastrophic breech failures in firing in battle conditions of continued stress in the thinner, weaker iron breeches.  This new improvement is a thicker, reinforced breech, and proved successful enough that it became the basis for all following iron tubes produced by Anderson/Tredegar--both smoothbores and rifled tubes.  The carriage is NOT original, but a Paulson Brother's-made aluminum reproduction (Paulson Brothers used exclusively by the NPS and many reenacting batteries for their quality, detail to authenticity, and durability.)  The carriage is COMPLETE with all reproduction accouterments and equipment, and to have one purchased today costs a minimum of $12,000 alone.  The current owner had a special cast plaque placed upon the carriage, describing the history and details of this phenomenal piece.  According to his excellent research, we know that only four (4) field batteries were in Richmond around August 22nd through the beginning of September (as Lee's freshly victorious Army of Northern Virginia at 2nd Manassas was launching his Maryland Campaign), and can safely narrow down to TWO batteries which we know were equipped with 12# field howitzers--Sturdivant's (Albemarle) Virginia battery, having had four (4) bronze 12# field howitzers, with two being lost earlier in the year, and then Taylor's Virginia Battery being JUST FORMED in August of 1862 within Richmond.  Given the existing evidence, and logical deduction, we are quite confident that this iron tube #1602 went to Taylor's brand new raw-recruit Battery--being comprised with many North Carolinians--and given that Sturdivant's Virginia Battery already had bronze tubes and were a field combat experienced battery, coupled that the classic "we take care of our own" Virginia mentality, it is only logical to deduce that Sturdivant got matching bronze 12# field howitzers to replace the two they lost, and the iron (weaker) tubes went to the raw-recruit Battery of Taylor's.  But this is not "firm" knowledge, but someone certainly could do the research to possibly 100% conclude which battery received this iron tube #1602.

As you can see in the pictures below, the muzzle bears the #1602, and the "1862" and "JRA & Co" for J. R. Anderson's mark, and the "TF" for Tredegar Foundry are CLEARLY visible, and the tube is in outstanding condition, given it's battlefield usage.  Thanks to Wayne Stark's database, we know that THIS TUBE #1602 is the LAST KNOWN SURVIVING iron field howitzer tube, and the 3rd-to-last one produced.  Tubes #1562 and 1595 also do survive.

Before 2008, other Tredegar's sold for MUCH MORE.  The ONLY OTHER TREDEGAR FOR SALE on the market is $200,000 right now.  This is someone's EXCELLENT opportunity to take advantage of "the times" for a phenomenal, irreplaceable piece of history--and investment.

PLEASE feel free to contact me for more information, and the owner does have reams of the aforementioned documentation research information.

SOLD!

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MUSEUM-QUALITY 3" Non-Dug Hotchkiss US Shell

Complete w/Unfired Sabot Intact, Internal Percussion Fuzing Able to Un-Screw WITH EASE !!!

Even has Original Arsenal Red Paint in Places!

END-of-the-ROAD-FINE!!!

How many chances will you EVER GET to have a US 3" Hotchkiss PERCUSSION-FUZED shell--having the internal fuzing able to completely un-screw with EASE--being NON-DUG, having the ORIGINAL ARSENAL RED PAINT in traces upon the SLICK as "Foundry New" condition?!?!?  Whether a Bannerman specimen, or battlefield pick-up, or whatever the case, this baby NEVER saw the inside of the earth, THAT is FOR SURE!  This is a SPECTACULAR, and truly "MUSEUM-QUALITY" example, which one can with PRIDE show how the design of the shell, the sabot, the internal fuzing, etc, all worked.  The internal powder cavity EMPTY--not one GRAIN of powder, and just like it came out of the foundry!  It's equal to the BEST examples I've seen--and MOST of those are ONLY IN MUSEUMS.  Phenomenal educational piece, and "end-of-the-road-fine" specimen.  It's EXACTLY as it left the foundry--some gas bubbles on the bottom, and even a few de-burring spots when the workers in the finishing process made sure it was a TOP-QUALITY shell intended to rain HOT IRON SHARDS down upon their Rebel foe.

It's so awesome to have pieces like this: not only do I get to play with them...but they do ALL the selling for me!  Just look at the many pics, and you'll come to the same conclusion as me!  THIS IS AWESOME!!!  I know my old "metal-heads" out there who love "heavy metal" will LOVE this beauty!!!  And just think....a couple of years ago, you would have had to pay $1000 to get a shell LIKE THIS!  I KNOW THIS for a fact, for the last one I saw equal to this sold for $1000!!!

$698  SOLD

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Beautiful & Slick 3.67" COMPLETE Hotchkiss Shell

Dug by ME, PERSONALLY, at Vicksburg

Fired By the 15th Ohio Battery (20# Parrotts)

Complete, Beautiful Lead Sabot, Brass Paper-Time Fuze

Exact Location Found (Private Property) with Battle Map to be given to future owner

Before our son's cancer, I would go relic hunting 2...3....sometimes even 4 days EVERY WEEK.  I loved it.  I love the outdoors to begin with, but to combine with my life-long, overwhelming passion regarding "the War" (as Southerner's simply call it!), it was PURE BLISS.  My old digging friends can attest to this!  I was in pure "heaven" to be outside relic hunting, unearthing any and all pieces from that horrible conflict.  And as far as my favorite artifacts to find....was BIG IRON!!  No, not horseshoes and such....but ARTILLERY PROJECTILES!   Give me a shell or solid shot any day over some breastplate or US boxplate ANY DAY of the WEEK!  Offered here is a GORGEOUS and COMPLETE 3.67" Hotchkiss shell that I dug in Vicksburg in a construction area, that was an overshot into town, and could ONLY have been fired by the 15th Ohio Battery, which had two 20# Parrott Rifles (3.67" diameter).  It's easy to know it was from them because it's the ONLY battery in the line-of-sight ANYWHERE near where this came from (and many were dug from this shell impact area over the decades), as the battle map will show to the future owner.  The iron is SLICK and STABLE--as essentially ALL Vicksburg-found iron is, thanks to our peculiar geology (our soil being "loess" sandy soil from ancient sand-storms 50,000 to 70,000 years ago).  The lead sabot is 100% INTACT and GORGEOUS!  The brass paper time fuze is also present, and it's clear, so all powder is cleaned out.  Cleaned and coated by me personally for its preservation and beautification, here's a chance to own a KILLER piece of Vicksburg History...ID'ed to the 15th Ohio Battery...and dug by your's truly back in July of 2004!!!

$398  SOLD

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US/CS Excavated 12-Pound Bormann Shell

Dug By Mr. Don Lackey Decades Ago--the LONG-TIME Digger & Local "Expert" on the Battle of Port Gibson

USGS Topo Map & Battle History Will Accompany The Shell As To the Impact General Area Where Found and Battle History

Yet another piece of excellent Port Gibson history and education rolled into one simple and humble artifact.  Between my buddy in Alabama and I (who bought all that was left of Mr. Don Lackey's collection he was selling in 2006/7), it's nice to have some "IRON" from such a critically strategic--yet so overlooked battle such as Port Gibson.  This fired US or CS 12-pound Bormann shell comes from my friend in Alabama...so NO, it's NOT from my personal collection!  Not sure if it is CS or US, since the shell impact area where found had BOTH US and CS shells, as the Brig. Gen'l Green's Arkansas boys had to abandon their first line of defense for one to the rear.  And since both the Bormann fuze and underplug are BOTH MISSING, that seals the fact we can't determine which side fired it.  Regardless, it was found in the hard-fought and BLOOD-SOAKED battleground that Brig. General Green's Arkansas Brigade and 4 cannon protecting the Lower Port Gibson Road, lined-up along the ridge where the Magnolia Church stood.  That single brigade and 4 CS cannon BRAVELY withstood the ONSLAUGHT of several of Grant's DIVISIONS, until finally the Arkansans and cannoneers being almost surrounded--with many men (and 2 disabled cannon) captured--were forced to fall-back to form another line of defense. On that momentous day, May 1st, 1863, the true inland thrust of Grant's last surge for his eventual goal of Vicksburg was opened with this bloody, savage, yet lop-sided battle in the thickets and ravines just outside the beautiful, peaceful town of Port Gibson, Mississippi.  Grant had just completed the largest amphibious landing of any US Army (until D-Day in WWII) the previous day, by coming down and across the Mississippi River, and landing into what was firmly "Confederate States" territory in Mississippi.  As Grant's army moved from the landing area inward, they knew someone would be waiting for them.  Several Confederate Brigades (around 6000 men) were being drawn-up hastily to meet Grant's army of 36,000.  They would literally collide in the dark around Midnight of the beginning of May 1st at the Schaffer House, about 2 miles southwest of Port Gibson.  The following day ensued with bitter fighting as the hopelessly outnumbered Confederates ferociously held-off and counter-attacked the Yankee army, until finally having to retire around 5 pm as Grant's army just ground the outnumbered Confederate defenders to pieces.  Grant had around 36,000 men...the Confederates around 6,000.  Yet, the arduous and tenacious Southerners fought THE ENTIRE DAY on May 1st, from midnight until after 5pm, before finally retreating by order (and COMMON SENSE, given they were facing Grant's entire ARMY!)

This shell was dug by long-time relic hunter and good friend of mine, Mr. Don Lackey, and sold through eBay with most of his dug collection several years ago--then being bought by my good friend (and the consignor) Mr. Randy Nelson.  Mr. Don Lackey dug this (and SO many other killer and historic pieces of Port Gibson) decades ago on private property with full permission.  For Don, the Battle of Port Gibson is like what the Battle of Champion Hill is to me--they are so personally SACRED and SPIRITUALLY-BOUND to us and our hearts.  This was dug within the Union lines, within the known CS artillery impact areas, on the south-side of the battlefield (Green's Brigade of Arkansans held the Magnolia Church line along the southern road to Port Gibson, while Brig. Gen'l Tracey's Alabama Brigade held the northern road leading into Port Gibson). 

This 12-pound Bormann shell is just a NICE, with NO MASSIVE PITS or CHIPS MISSING example--ONLY the expected minimal ground action on the iron--and I cleaned it GOOD and put a NICE wax coating for beautification and protection.   It's a GREAT, real piece of such a historic and so undeservedly overlooked CRITICAL and STRATEGIC battle.

Heck...it's cheaper than a breastplate, and this is a legit piece of such a historic and crucial battle for not just Port Gibson...but Vicksburg...the CONTROL OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER... fired in "ANGER" that has ALL THE HISTORY!

$198  SOLD

Confederate Excavated 6-Pound Solid Shot

Dug By Mr. Don Lackey Decades Ago--the LONG-TIME Digger & Local "Expert" on the Battle of Port Gibson

USGS Topo Map & Battle History Will Accompany The Shell As To the Impact General Area Where Found and Battle History

From My OWN Personal Collection I Purchased From Don back in 2006

Yet another piece of excellent history and education rolled into one simple and humble artifact: this fired CS 6-pound solid shot, fired against and into the Federal attacking infantry, that were assaulting Brig. General Green's Arkansas Brigade and 4 cannon protecting the Lower Port Gibson Road, lined-up along the ridge where the Magnolia Church stood.  That single brigade and 4 CS cannon BRAVELY withstood the ONSLAUGHT of several of Grant's DIVISIONS, until finally the Arkansans and cannoneers being almost surrounded--with many men (and 2 disabled cannon) captured--were forced to fall-back to form another line of defense. On that momentous day, May 1st, 1863, the true inland thrust of Grant's last surge for his eventual goal of Vicksburg was opened with this bloody, savage, yet lop-sided battle in the thickets and ravines just outside the beautiful, peaceful town of Port Gibson, Mississippi.  Grant had just completed the largest amphibious landing of any US Army (until D-Day in WWII) the previous day, by coming down and across the Mississippi River, and landing into what was firmly "Confederate States" territory in Mississippi.  As Grant's army moved from the landing area inward, they knew someone would be waiting for them.  Several Confederate Brigades (around 6000 men) were being drawn-up hastily to meet Grant's army of 36,000.  They would literally collide in the dark around Midnight of the beginning of May 1st at the Schaffer House, about 2 miles southwest of Port Gibson.  The following day ensued with bitter fighting as the hopelessly outnumbered Confederates ferociously held-off and counter-attacked the Yankee army, until finally having to retire around 5 pm as Grant's army just ground the outnumbered Confederate defenders to pieces.  Grant had around 36,000 men...the Confederates around 6,000.  Yet, the arduous and tenacious Southerners fought THE ENTIRE DAY on May 1st, from midnight until after 5pm, before finally retreating by order (and COMMON SENSE, given they were facing Grant's entire ARMY!)

This shell was dug by long-time relic hunter and good friend of mine, Mr. Don Lackey, and sold through eBay with most of his dug collection several years ago--then being bought by my good friend (and the consignor) Mr. Randy Nelson.  Mr. Don Lackey dug this (and SO many other killer and historic pieces of Port Gibson) decades ago on private property with full permission.  For Don, the Battle of Port Gibson is like what the Battle of Champion Hill is to me--they are so personally SACRED and SPIRITUALLY-BOUND to us and our hearts.  This was dug within the Union lines, within the known CS artillery impact areas, on the south-side of the battlefield (Green's Brigade of Arkansans held the Magnolia Church line along the southern road to Port Gibson, while Brig. Gen'l Tracey's Alabama Brigade held the northern road leading into Port Gibson). 

This example Confederate 6-pounder is VERY NICE, with NO BIG PITS or CHIPS MISSING WHATSOEVER--ONLY minimal ground action on the ironl--and I cleaned it GOOD and put a NICE wax coating for beautification and protection.  You can still see the distinct CS crude MOLD SEAM around mist of the projectile!  It's a GREAT, real Confederate piece of such a historic and so undeservedly overlooked CRITICAL and STRATEGIC battle.

Heck...it's cheaper than a breastplate, and this is a legit piece of CONFEDERATE IRON fired in "ANGER" that has ALL THE HISTORY!

$195  SOLD

SLICK & SWEET US 32-Pound Solid Shot Cannonball

Fired EXCLUSIVELY by Battery A, 1st Missouri Artillery

From the Siege of Vicksburg -- dug PERSONALLY by ME

USGS Topo Map and Battle Map Showing the 1st MO Battery Position and Where Found (on Private Property with Permission) to Accompany this Piece

$335 SOLD

Spectacular Complete US 24# Bormann Ground-Burst

Dug by ME Personally (Labor Day, 2001)

Fired Exclusively by the US "Tinclad" the USS Romeo

During the February 3rd, 1864 Battle of Sitartia (Also known as Liverpool Heights), the Great CS Victory by General "Sull" Ross' Texas Cavalry Brigade over the Invading Yankee's coming up the Yazoo River (near Yazoo City, MS)

Complete Shell, Encrusted w/Case Shot, Bormann Fuze and Brass Bormann Fuze Underplug

Map/Precise Location where Dug, and Battle History to Accompany this Piece

It's one thing to just buy a relic--one without any provenance as to who fired it, where it came from, the battle and details--but this was a PRIZED PIECE of my collection that I dug with my good friend the very first trip we took to the battlefield in the Mississippi Delta....the Battle of Sitartia/Liverpool Heights.  It was a "small" battle, yes--involving 3 of Brig. Gen'l "Sull" Ross' most famous Texas Brigade, defending the Yazoo River approach to the Confederate Naval Yard at Yazoo City and all the wherehouses of cotton and food within the city.  The Yankee's, based out of Vicksburg to the south, sent their armada of lightly-armored "tinclads" ( as they called them--there were 5 of them to guard the troop and supply transplorts--shown below is the "tinclad" USS MARMORA, sister-ship identical to the USS ROMEO) with supporting infantry to make the invasion into the Delta and try to capture Yazoo City, destroy the CS Naval Yard there (which had previously built the CS Ironclad that once defended Vicksburg the year before), and capture as much cotton the Yankee's could steal and bring back to Vicksburg for the Federal government, and burn the city.  On February 3rd, 1863, the slowly northward advance of the Yankee's upriver (being contested by Ross' single Texas Brigade of cavalrymen and two 3" rifled field artillery pieces) finally had to come to a "head" as the Union flotilla reached a sharp, critical bend in the Yazoo River (where they Confederates had sunk a steamboat, the "Ivy" to help block the bend) that the merely two Confederate light--but accurate rifled field pieces defended.  As the Yankee's tried to steam into the bend, the well-directed fire of the two lone Confederate 3" rifled cannon forced all the US "tinclads" to tuck-tail and turn around--except for the USS ROMEO, which sat alone in the bend of the river.  She was armed with eight 24-pound smoothbore cannon, and the shelling between the two sides commenced, and Ross' men and sharpshooters lined the banks to snipe anything in blue they could hit.  Knowing they had to finally meet and force Ross from his lofty position atop Liverpool Heights guarding the strategic bend, 3 US regiments were disembarked to confront Ross' understrength Texans.  Within the Union forces was actually a US Colored Regiment, the 8th Louisiana of Colored Descent.  Ross' Texans had proven themselves time and time again (and would continue to do so later in the same year during the Atlanta Campaign) as fierce fighters--many of whom were ex-militia/military men who fought the Comanche's in west Texas.  Fighting the Comanche's taught them a thing or two about fighting....and they even employed a fantastistically hilarious trick on the Colored troops, in which some of the Texans had themselves just lightly buried with dirt and leaves--waiting for the on-coming black soldiers--and once within pistol-shot range, the Texans would RISE-UP OUT OF THE GROUND--almost "ghost-like"--and SPOOK the DAYLIGHTS out of the black soldiers, shooting them in the back with their pistols (straight out of one of their diaries!)  Despite the overwhelming numbers of men and artillery the Yankee's had at their command, they could not dislodge Ross' stalwart men from the heights, and the Yankee's were given the order to re-embark.  Ross then withdrew his small force to their cantonement miles north up the Benton Road, to enjoy the laurels of their victory.  The Yankee's left all their dead and wounded on the field, and Ross' boys did the clean-up of weapon, ammunition, and accouterments.  In fact, as what was later discovered by our local relic hunters were the piles of US cartridge box plates and breastplates--literally dozens upon dozens--where Ross' men stripped them off the captured accouterments.

I personally dug this complete groundburst that was fired exclusively by the tinclad USS ROMEO, into the STEEP bluff of Liverpool Heights.  It was near the top of the heights, just above the roadbed ascending the heights...and was 3.5 feet deep!  My Fisher 1266X gave me a large but soft, deep tone, and I set-up digging in the 90+ heat (and SWARMING mosquitoes!) until I dug the groundburst out.  Over 150 loose case-shot in the dirt, and the 4 main sidewalls of the shell, with the top fuze section being in 3 pieces, and having the Bormann fuze intact and "frozen" to one of the top fragments, and the brass Bormann fuze underplug underneath.  The 4 sidewalls as ENCRUSTED with case-shot, as you can clearly see!  It REALLY displays beautifully--those of you who have been to my house have seen it, and the other 2 complete ground-bursts I have dug from the same site.

Such a COOL piece of history-filled "ground-burst" that not only has such a cool history, but is an excellent display piece, as it shows and exposes how the Bormann Shell fuzing system worked, and the case-shot inside.  A full USGS Topo map with all the cool battle-history to accompany this piece, dug by yours truly on the Labor Day weekend of 2001!

$298  SOLD

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Excavated Confederate 12# Original Canister Round

From the Famous CS Ammo Dump at Snyder's Bluff, MS

Where The Retreating Confederates Pulled-Back into the Vicksburg Defenses on May 18th, 1863, Spiking the Heavy Guns Protecting the Yazoo River Approach to Vicksburg, & Blowing the MASSIVE Ammunition Dump In Their Leaving

So rare to find ANYWHERE else...except for us lucky enough to live near Vicksburg!!!  So many HUNDREDS of canister rounds--let alone small arms ammunition, percussion caps, rifled and smoothbore projectiles, artillery implements, etc--were stored within the main massive ammunition dump upon Snyder's Bluff, the strategic bluff ringed with heavy guns to protect the Yazoo River approach into Vicksburg/Mississippi River.  When CS commanding General John Pemberton's chief engineer went to oversee the salvage of what could be taken, and destruction of what could not, he prepared the dump's charge and powder trail.  Then he lit the powder trail and RAN LIKE HECK!  In his own diary, he explained that the explosion was SO MASSIVE, that it blew him feet-high in the air, and many feet back through the air from the shock-wave of the blast!  For decades (before the paper company and deer hunting club put the NIX on relic hunting there), local diggers would gleefully never get off their KNEES in digging the minnie' balls, percussion caps, shell fragments, artillery tools and implements, case and canister shot, base and top plates, as well as the prized rare 3" Read Selma Arsenal variant rifled projectiles, as well as smoothbore projectiles.  Of course, these canister rounds are reconstructed PAINSTAKINGLY to their original configuration.  They were originally loaded within (literally) a tin can with wooden sabot base at the bottom, to which inside they'd place the bottom iron base-plate, then all the 1" (+/-) diameter crudely-cast iron canister balls (you can see the classically CS crude casting "teats" all over), pack with sawdust, and then cover the top again with tin.  With the 27 iron 1" balls inside, the artillerymen would utilize these rounds to basically turn their cannon into GIANT SHOTGUNS!!!  Literally, they would usually load DOUBLE ROUNDS, and once an attacking enemy came within 75 yards, they would completely obliterate all bone and flesh of any man caught in that ENORMOUS SHOTGUN BLAST from the muzzle of the gun.  Men would describe how entire companies (20-30 men) would simply be blown into chunks of flesh and bloody spray, and enormous gaps ripped-open through their lines attacking into the mouths of such iron horror.

NO REAL CIVIL WAR COLLECTION can EVER be TRULY COMPLETE without one of these.  Why?  Not only because they are so immediately eye-catching (every kid or even wife will stop to look at the unique matrix of balls), but once you educationally enlighten them as to what it is, how it was used, and the graphic effect it inflicted upon thousands of men on many battlefields....it is a MUST-HAVE.

So much history & educational value...ID'ed specifically to the Confederate ammunition dump and it's Vicksburg history...and won't cost you mortgage payment to own!

$550  SOLD

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Even MORE SUPERB & HISTORIC,

Gettysburg US 3" Schenkl Shell

Battlefield Pick-Up by the Virginia Monument

(Formation for Pickett's Charge)

From the World-Famous/Renown Geiselman Collection

Well, this one didn't "make the cut" into O'Donnell's "Relics of Gettysburg" book....BECAUSE YOU CAN'T LITERALLY PICTURE EVERYTHING!!!!  But this baby is yet another Geiselman, world-renown, pioneer Gettysburg battlefield pick-up collector.  This 3" BEAUTY was found almost next to where the famous Virginia Monument is located today.  Although no-one can ever say for sure, it was ALMOST CERTAINLY fired during the famous cannonade on July 3, 1863 proceeding Pickett's Charge / Longstreet's Assault.  It is the wider version Schenkl-nose, that allowed a maximum load of case shot--which would AGAIN further the CASE that this was during the infamous cannonade before Pickett's Charge.  Never cleaned or coated in any way.  Only remnants of the fuse remain and the inner cavity is fully visible.

And this one is even a little cheaper!  NOTARIZED Letter of Sale/Authenticity from the current collector/owner for the future owner.

THIS WAS PURCHASED THROUGH THE "HORSE SOLDIER" IN GETTYSBURG, when THEY ACQUIRED AND SOLD THE REMAINDER OF THE GEILSELMAN COLLECTION.  Below is their Letter of Sale/Authenticity....you can go onto the Horse Soldier's website and see it for YOURSELF!

SOLD

SUPERB, HISTORIC, & PUBLISHED !!!

US 3" Complete Schenkl Shell

Battlefield Pick-Up in the "Valley of Death", Gettysburg

(The Valley between the Round Tops and Devil's Den)

U.S. 3" Schenkl shell that was once a part of the world famous Geiselman Collection.  This shell was an early battlefield recovery found in The Valley of Death between the Roundtops and Devil's Den at Gettysburg.  It is now published on page 149 of Mike O'Donnell's new book Gettysburg Relics (I think that's the title).  It's Schenkl brass percussion fuse is dated Oct. 16, 1861.  In original, as found early pickup condition - never cleaned or coated in any way.  Drilled on one side to disarm.  They just don't come any better than this--straight from the truly WORLD-FAMOUS, PIONEER Gettysburg Collector.  And yes...you have to pay PREMIUM for PREMIUM, PREMIERE Gettysburg authentic, published artifacts from such a world-famous collection...

SOLD

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Flawless Dug CS 6-Pounder on Intact Sabot & Straps!

From the Famous Milledgeville, Georgia Arsenal Site

CLEAR CS Mold Seam, INTACT Original Tin Straps (still LOOKING LIKE TIN, and NOT Crusty Rust!)

NO PITTING, Damage, or Repairs WHATSOEVER

If you know me, I love my "heavy metal" to be FLAWLESS, RARE, and CONFEDERATE!  And here's an END-OF-THE-ROAD STUNNING EXAMPLE!!!  From the famous cache recovered from the Milledgeville, Georgia , where the Milledgeville Confederate Arsenal dumped the munitions and weapons they couldn't take with them.  This specimen is the FINEST example I have personally had, let alone SEEN recovered from the site!  NO PITTING....INTACT TIN STRAPS that aren't crusty remnants, but actually STILL LOOK LIKE some SHINY TIN!  Wooden sabot intact, of course, with the usual slight shrinkage from being in the water--but it was the water/mud that preserved this and other specimens from the site so well!  CLEAR CS crude mold seam....it's ALL SO GOOD!

If you've got "Georgia on your mind"--or want the FINEST CS 6-pounder on intact sabot and straps....look no further.  No need to upgrade with this one.  "End-of-the-road fine" as Larry Hicklen would say!

$699  SOLD

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Superb Non-Dug 3-Pound US Ketchum Hand Grenade

Original, PERFECT CONDITION Grenade

With EXCELLENT, AUTHENTICALLY REPRODUCED Tail Section with Fins, Patent Mark, and Plunger

Used almost exclusively at the sieges of Port Hudson, Louisiana and Vicksburg, Mississippi, the US Ketchum hand grenade was a revolutionary step in development and advancement of the hand-held grenade that soldiers could you--because it was truly one that would/could only explode precisely on contact.  "Grenadiers" had been formations of soldiers used around the world for well over 100 years before the Civil War--soldiers who were equipped with small, essentially cannonballs that had to be fuse-lit and thrown....giving the enemy time to pick it up and throw it back, or the fuse to burn-out, or get snuffed-out if it hit into the ground just right.  The design Ketchum came up with was incredibly unique and advanced, having an aerodynamic form, with stabilizing tail with heavy-paper fins, and a large plunger that once thrown and the grenade landed on the plunger, the plunger would be pushed-in upon impact, striking a simple percussion musket cap, and immediately ignite the grenade.  If you'll notice, NERF makes a throwing toy EXACTLY copied from the Ketchum hand grenade design!!!  Thus proving the design was revolutionary and advanced for it's age in the 1860's, with forethought into aerodynamics.  However, in actual combat siege conditions, the Ketchum hand grenade proved to be far less effective than as designed.  This was mainly due to the fact that the US soldiers throwing them had to throw UP and HIGH to reach into the CS well-fortified entrenchments.  Many simple never made it into the trenches, and landed on their sides in the dirt.  Others would arc over the entrenchments, but again land not on the plunger directly.  It was well noted by US soldiers at Vicksburg and Port Hudson that the Ketchum hand grenade was less than effective, and even quoted in one report that, "they were more deadly against our own troops, as the rebels would take the many that did not detonate, and thrown them directly down upon us with great effect...".

The original 3# hand grenade is in the most perfect iron, non-dug condition, still retaining the original lead plunger adaptor at the nose.  A truly professional and MUSEUM-QUALITY job of making the reproduction plunger, wooden tail, heavy paper tail fins, and the correct Patent marking that each grenade was stamped with, makes this a most outstanding display piece, and impossible to upgrade from....unless, of course, you can find one with the original tail, fins, and plunger!   But you find any for sale anytime soon, and if you did, it would cost you THOUSANDS.

Here you get all the beauty, display and eye-appeal, all wrapped into this outstanding technological and educational piece of the Civil War's history....

SOLD

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Phenomenal Unfired CS 24# Bormann Shell Intact On Wooden Sabot!

Found Decades Ago From Vicksburg

Clear High-Lip CS Bormann-Fuze, Clear Strap Remnants, Great Remaining Sabot

I like my "heavy metal" to be big, beautiful, rare, Confederate, and from Vicksburg!  AND THIS IS IT!  This beauty was excavated decades ago (probably from a creek where the water protected the wooden sabot to survive intact as it has).  It is a clear 24-Pounder, Confederate "high-lip" flat/straight-channel Bormann-fuzed shell.  Obviously unfired--tin strap remnants seen CLEARLY on all sides, with ball firmly stcuk to it's wooden sabot, and Bormann fuze unpunched.  Gorgeous white CS soft-metal/pewter patina to the fuze, though given the poorer quality of CS metal, the numbers are totally illegible (their metal was poorer quality, and thus "softer" metal, and the ground/water action just caused the facial impartations of the seconds and hash-marks to fade with time).  It has been professionally cleaned and coated with wax to preserve this remarkable, rare beauty for generations to come.  The Confederates emplyed a LOT of 24-pounders in their siege works, and this must have been dumped in a creek to keep from the Yankees after surrendering, or who knows.  All I know is--HOW OFTEN DO YOU GET A SHOT AT BUYING A CS 24-POUNDER BORMANN-FUZED INTACT SHELL ON WOODEN SABOT!?!?

$598 SOLD

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Dug 3.8' US James "Birdcage" Type I Bolt

From the Fateful Battle of Port Gibson (MS) May 1st, 1861

Recovered Recently by my friend Don Lackey

FULL Battle Maps, USGS Topo Maps of where precisely found

You've had the chance of seeing some of the killer early-dug (1970's) quality relics that my buddy Don Lackey found upon the Port Gibson Battlefield....now you get to see the difference the decades make!  Someone who really wants a STEAL of a deal could take this piece and perform electrolysis and make it beautiful!  I can provide a USGS topo map to show precisely where it was recovered  A really cool Type I "Birdcage" James Bolt fired against Pettus' Confederate "Flying Artillery" Battery.

Only the VERY ASTUTE historians know about the Battle of Port Gibson--because it was indeed the "beginning of the end" of the South for the entire War.  Over the previous months, Grant had tried 6 different operations to either take, bypass altogether, or force the Confederate abandonment of Vicksburg from the protection across the rivers of the mighty Mississippi River, and from the Yazoo River running into the Mississippi.  The mighty "Gibraltar of the West"--Vicksburg--bristled with heavy guns...heavy enough to sink and damage enough of Grant's navy and transport ships.  His attempt at sending Sherman at the end of 1862 in the Chickasaw Bayou attacks were disastrous, to say the least.  Other expeditions up tributaries of the Yazoo were equally for naught, as was the debacle of trying to build a  canal cutting across land in the low, Louisiana swampy flat-lands west of Vicksburg.  Lincoln made very simple and clear regarding the war and how important Vicksburg was to it's victory or defeat: "Vicksburg is the key...with the key in our pocket, we can open the door to [total] victory...".  Grant failed miserably at the previous 6 attempts...but as we all know--his greatest strength was his tenacity despite ALL COSTS of lives or failures.  He decided to make an extremely risky run past the deadly guns of Vicksburg, and lower Warrenton, and THEN the bristling fortress at Grand Gulf further south of Vicksburg on the Mississippi River.  But after successfully having his navy and transports run the gauntlets, AND his entire army march overland on the western bank of the river on the Louisiana side, by the last days of April 1863, Grant was ready to make THE LARGEST AMPHIBIOUS LANDING OF US ARMED FORCES until D-Day in 1944.  Crossing at a small, sleepy town of Bruinsburg, Mississippi, Grant's landings were unopposed...but Pemberton knew that Grant had at least 36,000 men that were crossing somewhere below Grand Gulf, and assumed correctly that Port Gibson would be the perfect place he would head inland to, in order to follow the Natchez Trace/Jackson Road further inland to make his encirclement of Vicksburg.  Under a clear and full moon-lit night, just after midnight of May 1st, 1863, the scouts and skirmishers of CS Brig. General Green's Arkansas Brigade made first contact and exchange of gunfire around the Shaifer house on the lower Bruinsburg road.  Grant's 36,000 men ran into the tiny "roadblock" of this single brigade of stalwart Arkansans under the moonlight, and both sides began an immediate night attack--both sides bringing up artillery and volley fire against each other for several hours, until the moon had set, and it was too dark (one of the VERY FEW TRUE NIGHT ENGAGEMENTS of the ENTIRE WAR.)

In the soft glow of the rising sun, Grant sent TWO entire DIVISIONS against the 2,000 strong Brigade of Arkansans waiting in battleline long the Magnolia church and ridge, and only 6 cannon (later reduced to 4).  Another US Division was sent on a plantation road to the north and ran into CS Brig. Gen'l Tracy's Alabama single Brigade guarding that approach to the upper Bruinsburg Road.  What ensued in the cane-choked, knife-like cut ridges, ravines, and rivulets was a nightmarish fight--with the some 4,000 Confederates fending-off 30,000+ Yankees under Grant.  After staunch fighting both by Green's Arkansans, and Tracy's Alabamians (Tracy being killed himself), both sides held their ground for HOURS against overwhelming odds against them.  Finally, though, the sheer weight, might, and numbers of Yankees broke-through Green's line at Magnolia Church, capturing 2 cannon and many men (most from the 15th and 19th Arkansas).  Even a dead Confederate was recovered on the backside of this area, which are THE SOLDIER'S REMAINS that are within the "TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN CONFEDERATE SOLDIER" in Beauvoir, Mississippi--Jeff Davis' home and National museum in Biloxi, MS!  Green's men fled back to yet another position to the rear behind a creek, atop a high ridge, and continued to fend-off the relentless Federal assaults.  Earlier in the morning, word was quickly sent to Cockrell's Missouri Brigade stationed some 15 miles away and above within Grand Gulf to EVACUATE Grand Gulf, and come at once to stem the Yankee invasion.  Cockrell's grand Missourians arrived late in the afternoon--split their forces and battery to both the Arkansans and Alabamians, and thus at most, finally had around 6,000 men to try to stave-off the now 36,000 Yankees under Grant.  In the waning light of sunset, the clear and only choice for the profusely outnumbered Confederates was to retreat through the town of Port Gibson, head north toward Vicksburg, and guard the river crossings and await further reinforcement from Pemberton's Army of Mississippi stationed all around the Vicksburg general vicinity. 

Now THAT, my friends, is the REAL HISTORY of the Battle of Port Gibson...LARGEST AMPHIBIOUS LANDING of US FORCES until D-Day (Port Gibson is often referred to as the "D-Day of the Civil War"), the valor, determination, and courage of so few Confederates to wholly withstand and clog Grant's advance for 24 hours, despite outnumbered 6-to1.

 Really "killer" piece of history here for such a small price!

$298  SOLD

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Nearly FLAWLESS 3.67" US Hotchkiss Shell

FULL, CRISP Lead Sabot with Rifling

Excellent Iron Anvil-Nosed Fuse

Legible Hotchkiss Patent Base Cup

Another most excellent iron condition, Vicksburg beauty (got to LOVE that special "Loess" soil that keeps our iron GORGEOUS!), this intact and fired 3.67, WITH clear and legible Hotchkiss base information on the base cup itself, has everything going for it.  It is nearly flawless--virtually no ground action or pitting whatsoever, with the slickest, dark metal surface, and that BEAUTIFUL, COMPLETE fired lead sabot intact, showing the crisp rifling from being fired from a rifled 6-pounder gun.  Even the iron anvil-nosed percussion fuze is spectacular.

"Collector's-grade" quality with this one--hard to upgrade to a better specimen, as there aren't many to be had!

$450  SOLD

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Original English Whitworth Ammo Crate

Recovered by Divers Decades Ago from the Famous Blockade Runner "Modern Greece"

Still Retaining TWO British 2.75" Whitworth Bolts Inside

Outstanding Non-Dug British 2.75" Whitworth Bolt

You have grown to expect no less than the very best from Champion Hill Relics...and this rare Confederate-imported, British made Whitworth breechloading rifled cannon 2.75" bolt is ALL THAT!  Clearly an unfired and non-dug specimen, it is in EXCEPTIONAL condition, with the lathe-finishing marks seen vividly in between the grooving, and the lathe dimple in the nose clearly present.  These were the finest, most technologically-advanced, longest-ranged field cannon in the world during the 1860's, and the South prized the few they could run through the blockade and equip her desperate batteries with.  The 12-pounder 2.75" Caliber British Whitworth Rifle and her ammunition holds a certain "mystique" and "awe" over any collector.  No serious Confederate collection will EVER be complete without one--and this is the finest non-dug specimen you could ever hope for.  Not a nick or scratch anywhere.  Sheer British and Confederate PERFECTION!

SOLD

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Beautiful 3" CS "Snyder's Bluff" Read Bolt

Found From The Famous CS Snyder's Bluff Blown Ammo Dump

(Retreating Confederates Into the Vicksburg Defenses Blown the Dump)

I know just about every digger in this area--and seen just about every specimen--that was found from the blown Confederate magazine along the Snyder's Bluff Confederate fortifications and defenses above the NE corridor of the Yazoo River (the Yazoo flows south into the Mississippi River at Vicksburg, and thus was heavily defended by the Confederates against an approach from the North by the Yankees).  After the disastrous defeats for the South at Champion Hill (May 16th,) and the following day at the Big Black River, Pemberton had to order his entire spread-out forces to sadly pull within the inner defenses of Vicksburg for the inevitable siege.  With such short notice, the Confederates tried to pull away as much munitions and cannon as they could (as time and resources for moving allowed), and the rest had to be abandoned.  They spiked the heavy guns, and blew the munitions they couldn't bring with them.  The Confederate Engineer in charge of the demolition wrote that when the dump blew, it "threw me several feet into the air--I being the closest and last person from the magazine after lighting the fuse...."   In the early days of relic hunting, local pioneer relic hunters found the blown crater easily--and to their delight (amongst many other relics) were these extremely scarce 3" CS Read Bolts.  They are now simply referred to as "Snyder's Bluff" Reads by many in the community, since it is essentially the only place where they are found.  Given our soil content, the iron is usually very good on our projectiles and iron relics around here--and this is yet another classic specimen in the typical condition that you find them in.  Solid and stable, with that most beautiful intact, unfired brass sabot.  Has the classic off-center bourelets, long and thick brass sabot (not high copper content on these babies--better quality from early production runs from the Selma Arsenal), and lathe dimple on the bottom.  You can see even the mold anomalies in the brass sabot (gas bubbles or sand inclusions, probably).  Being a very rare Selma Arsenal product, this is just another fine rare Confederate piece of iron to add to your collection and display.

To the future owner, I will provide a USGS TOPO MAP with precise location of the magazine where this was found, AND original wartime map showing the corresponding location, as well. 

$798  SOLD

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Unworldly Rare UNFIRED CS 3.3" Imitation James Bolt

RARITY 10 !!!  A true "HOLY GRAIL" of Projectiles!

Unfired, Intact Full Lead SABOT!!!!

Recovered from the Small Port Hudson Cache

Was Ammunition for the lone 3.5" CS-Made Blakely Rifle, Made by the Leeds Foundry in Downtown New Orleans!

That Lone Blakely Rifle Made by Leeds Foundry is on Display at the West Point Museum today as a "War Trophy"!!!!

Indeed, amongst the "Holiest of Holies", the 3.3" CS-made "imitation" James Bolt is (as the top projectile collectors will tell you) among the "Top 5" list of "most wanted" projectiles!!!!  Given that less than a dozen are known to exist (2 fired specimens from Shiloh, both without ANY lead sabot remaining, and the others being unfired specimens from Port Hudson), these beauties are a sight to behold.  I have NEVER personally seen one with my own two eyes until this one, if that means or says ANYTHING to you!  This one is unfired, with the full lead sabot intact.  Absolutely perfectly slick iron, except a couple typical "Port Hudson" tiny chips off the side of the nose and around the base, but as you see in the photo's, they are indeed MINOR.  A soldier/artillerist carved into on side of the lead sabot (perhaps purposely done to expand the lead outward--remember, this is a 3.3" bolt that was going to be fired out of a 3.5" diameter bore, so I think this was indeed the case!)  You can look up inside the base and see the beautiful "birdcage" iron ribbing, imitating the US Type I James "Birdcage" projectile.

The last one of these sold at Julia's Auction for $4000, and then sold to a collector for $5000!

You can save thousands with this one!!!

$2999  SOLD

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CS 3.67" Selma Arsenal "G" Stamped Brooke Shell

CLEAR SELMA "G" STAMPING IN SABOT

Rarity 9+ (Less than 20 known to exist ANYWHERE!)

Recovered from Battle of Nickajack Creek, Gerogia -- Originally from Jack Melton, Projectile "GURU"

Let the parade of RARE and CONFEDERATE artifacts BEGIN!  And this is just the start, my friends.  Offered here is a beautiful and ultra-rare (less than 20 known to exist) Selma Arsenal-made WITH the SELMA ARSENAL "G" PRODUCTION STAMPING vividly clear stamped into the copper, full, and intact sabot.  These have been found only at the Battle of Nickajack Creek, just outside of Atlanta, during the Atlanta Campaign.  Originally coming from the "GURU" of all things iron, Mr. Jack Melton himself (native and still living not far from Nickajack Creek!), this beauty can now be YOURS.  The specially-made "Brooke" fuze time adaptor is wonderfully intact.  The GORGEOUSLY ORIGINAL & INTACT (beware of specimens that have sabot's "attached" and "married" to these rare babies!) copper sabot disk with iron nut and bolt attaching it to the shell base it just PERFECT!  Iron shows only the most minimal and expected ground action--no big chunks, pits, or iron loss AT ALL.  Can still see lathe finishing marks and the demarcation from the nose area of casting to the finished/lathed side.

Not much more to say on this one.  Full provenance as to where it was dug (bet if you look, you'll find only ONE CS BATTERY of 20-pounder Parrott's that could have fired these, so probably ID'ed to the CS battery!), coming straight from projectile "guru" Jack Melton himself, and so beautifully rare with great eye appeal, and that stunning Selma Arsenal "G" stamping.  I'm in love!!!!!

$1999  SOLD

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Gorgeously Slick CS 3" Archer Bolt Projectile

One of my few "claims to fame" in relic hunting is that I have actually dug an exact condition and kind of exclusively Confederate designed and made Archer projectile!  For any relic hunter, finding one of these is a "Holy Grail" moment!  This one is an EXTREMELY early-dug specimen....and boy, does it show!  Virtually free from ANY real surface/ground action, it only shows the true quality of iron artifacts/projectiles that came out of the ground, requiring NO CLEANING or COATING for preservation!  Obviously fired, since it is missing the sabot, it is about as fine of this type of CS Archer as you will have a chance to own anytime soon!  You can see the "dimples" that were casted into the concentric and decreasing-sized tail "rings"--which were designed to help the lead sabot stay attached/grip to the projectile upon firing. 

Oh so nice....

SOLD

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Yet Again, FINEST CS 3" "Snyder's Bluff" Read Bolt

Found From The Famous CS Snyder's Bluff Blown Ammo Dump

(Retreating Confederates Into the Vicksburg Defenses Blown the Dump)

I know just about every digger in this area--and seen just about every specimen--that was found from the blown Confederate magazine along the Snyder's Bluff Confederate fortifications and defenses above the NE corridor of the Yazoo River (the Yazoo flows south into the Mississippi River at Vicksburg, and thus was heavily defended by the Confederates against an approach from the North by the Yankees).  After the disastrous defeats for the South at Champion Hill (May 16th,) and the following day at the Big Black River, Pemberton had to order his entire spread-out forces to sadly pull within the inner defenses of Vicksburg for the inevitable siege.  With such short notice, the Confederates tried to pull away as much munitions and cannon as they could (as time and resources for moving allowed), and the rest had to be abandoned.  They spiked the heavy guns, and blew the munitions they couldn't bring with them.  The Confederate Engineer in charge of the demolition wrote that when the dump blew, it "threw me several feet into the air--I being the closest and last person from the magazine after lighting the fuse...."   In the early days of relic hunting, local pioneer relic hunters found the blown crater easily--and to their delight (amongst many other relics) were these extremely scarce 3" CS Read Bolts.  They are now simply referred to as "Snyder's Bluff" Reads by many in the community, since it is essentially only where they are found.  Given our soil content, the iron is usually very good on our projectiles and iron relics around here--but this one is truly of the finest quality of the specimens I've seen from Snyder's.  I've seen others as equally good, yes---but none better.  No pitting whatsoever.  Virtually free from any ground action.  The most beautiful green patina on the brass sabot.  There is the ever-so-slight push in one tiny area of the sabot--only showing and attesting to it's violent trauma it endured in the explosion.  Has the classic off-center bourelets, long and thick brass sabot (not high copper content on these babies--better quality from early production runs from the Selma Arsenal), and lathe dimple on the bottom.  You can see even the mold anomalies in the brass sabot (gas bubbles or sand inclusions, probably).  Being a very rare Selma Arsenal product, this is as "good as it gets".  No need to ever upgrade with this one.

To the future owner, I will provide a USGS TOPO MAP with precise location of the magazine where this was found, AND original wartime map showing the corresponding location, as well.  Coming from the same collection as the CS super-fine "Clip Corner" buckle above, you get a taste of the quality this collector has--with more on the way!!!

SOLD

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Ultra-Rare 3.5" CS 1861 Britten Segmented Shell

From The Personal Collection of Thomas Dickey

Considered the FINEST CONDITION Fired Dug Specimen

Rarity 9+ (Less than 24 known to exist), coming from the personal collection of Dickey, author & artillery "guru"

Has FULLY REMOVABLE Brass Britten Percussion Fuze

As you, my faithful followers, friends, and clients all know too well, I strive to acquire and offer you only the finest of the fine....best of the best.  Offered for sale here is what is considered the finest excavated fired Britten Shell known in the collecting community.  And what else would you expect coming from the personal collection of Thomas Dickey himself--author of the paramount artillery field projectile reference book we all have.  This 1861 Confederate-imported and used British rifled projectile (patent #585) had a unique segmented interior and equally unique Britten patented brass percussion fuze cap and system, which have been given the rarity value by George and Dickey of 9+, meaning less than 24 known to exist to this day.  And this IS the finest of the fine!  Full lead cup sabot, showing beautiful and clear 7 rifling grooves from the 3.5" Blakely rifle which fired it.  So few of these Blakely Rifles and their corresponding 3.5" Britten Shells were able to be imported to the South, but they were prized weapons in the hands of their gunners--and feared greatly by their foe.  The brass percussion cap screws on and off with perfect ease, exposing the percussion system's interior.  Virtually flawless in metal condition, it displays as perfect as you could ever hope for.

It is, after all, recognized as the finest specimen known to exist!  Find the rarest CS button or belt buckle specimen of any kind, and you'd pay so many thousands to possess it.  One day soon, CS artillery will be just as outrageously priced.  Better get the best CHEAP while you can!

$1595  SOLD

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Stunning Museum-Quality Non-Dug 3" Schenkl Shell w/Removable 1861-Patent Schenkl Fuse

Absolutely "Factory-New" Condition Unfired & Non-Dug Specimen -- Exactly the condition as it came from the Foundry

The sale fell-through from earlier this week, so THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE!  This is a show-stopper and jaw-dropper, my friends: remarkable original non-dug and unfired 3" Schenkl shell with fully removable 1861-patent dated Schenkl percussion fuse.  It is certainly "stunning" in every sense of the word, being in the exact condition as the day it came out of the foundry and sent to the arsenal.  It is a remarkable piece in phenomenal condition.  It doesn't have the paper-mache sabot, but I only know of a couple of examples that exist which do.  The J. P. Schenkl-marked percussion fuse is perfectly clear and legible, as is the 1861 patent date on the fuse as well.  You can un-screw the fuse out of the shell with ease, and is a perfect fit with the pristine threading.  Yes, you can fully disassemble the fuse, taking the inner plunger-disc out by unscrewing, and you can even take the small side-screw out to remove the inner percussion nipple insert (but be warned: if you take the inner percussion nipple insert out, you have to put it back in so that the screw holes align to put the screw back!  Might take you a few tries to do so!)  It is so cool to see how the very uniquely shaped and designed Schenkl shell and percussion fuse system worked, and especially on one that is clearly in "foundry-new" condition.  When's the last time you ever saw a non-dug Schenkl shell for sale? 

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