A very scarce Confederate artillery shell.  The design of this particular shell is attributed to Captain William Leroy Broun that commanded the Richmond Arsenal. The recorded date of production for these 3” Rifle projectiles started in April 1864. The blunted nose of the shell was designed to increase its wind resistance, which would help stabilize the flight of heavy-based shells. Confederates later adopted this principle for their 20 & 30 pound Parrott Rifle rounds. Captain Broun’s design dispensed with the usual body ring above the base, making the sabot wider in diameter to act as the lower bourrelet. Two saw –cuts were also added for flame grooves. The Broun shells first made their appearance at 2nd Cold Harbor, Virginia, May 1864.

This excavated specimen has a diameter of 2.94 “and a length of 7.5” with a weight of 8lbs 15ozs. The lower 1” Sabot ring is composed of copper with the two opposing saw cuts still present. The nose fuse originally had a wood adaptor (Some fragments still present). The overall body shows heavy pitting and ground action. At some point in its history, this shell was coated with a lacquer like preservative.

The exact recovery location of this example is unknown.

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