Britten patented this projectile's segmented interior on March 8, 1861, British patent #585. The interior had nine long wedges of iron cast is such a way to have each break into six pieces. Upon detonation, the bursting charge would break the nine long wedges into fifty-four fragments, and the outer shell body into many additional fragments. This shell was used in the 12-pounder Blakely rifle.

This is a perfect fragment for display as the shell has broken nearly in half perfectly illustrating the interior construction. Two of the nine segmented wedges remain in place. Portion of the threaded fuse hole and lead sabot also remain. The lead sabot also exhibits rifling. Iron is solid with typical pitting of “dug” iron. Fragment has been cleaned, coated and is well preserved. Fragment measures 6” tall x 3” wide.

The recovery location of this is unknown but this type of shell is known to have been fired at Spanish Fort, Alabama, and Seven Pines, Virginia.

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