Here is an excavated, defused Civil War Confederate 3” field artillery projectile commonly referred to as a Read Virginia-pattern common shell. This fine condition, cylindrical-shaped piece measures 7” high and has a base diameter of 2.96.” Constructed of cast iron, specimen features a pointed nose or ogive with its copper time fuse adapter still inserted in the opening. No paper fuse in the adapter. Also, shell is missing its lathe dog but retains two, strong bourrelets (raised rings) and its complete copper ring sabot. The projectile is in very strong, dug condition with no cracks or chips. Shell, which appears to have been cleaned, exhibits light to moderate rust pockmarking on the surface and wears remnants of an old chocolate brown coating or sealant. Shell weighs approximately eight pounds and retains its intact, ½” high copper ring sabot (cup) base embedded in the iron body of the shell.

Typical of rifled Confederate Read projectiles, this shell has the classic twin bourrelets on the exterior case. Bourrelets, a French term indicating raised rings, were utilized as bearing surfaces when the shell was fitted into the bore of the cannon. Bourrelets served to save time and minimize tooling costs at the arsenal since the lather operators machined only these rings to tolerance and not the entire shell body. This pattern of Read shell was designed for use with the Confederate 3” wrought iron rifle (ordnance rifle). Distinctly visible at the base of the shell is the prominent expansion and lubrication groove between the sabot and the iron body, often called the “Read safety groove”. Groove was developed by projectile inventor Dr. John B. Read to allow the sabot some room for forward displacement during expansion when shell was fired.

This fired CS Read from the battlefield at Chancellorsville is a very fine, complete excavated projectile that would make a perfect addition to any Civil War field artillery display or “heavy metal” collection.

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