Tapered, oval-shaped iron- grenade, 7” in length, 3” in width at its mid-section. With an 8.375” wooden strut tail and 4 hard-paper fins attached to guide it in flight when thrown. At its nose is a convex circular plunger designed to detonate on contact. Weight: 4.5 Lbs.

Designed by William F. Ketchum, the grenade patent date “Patented Aug 20 1861” is stamped on the tail of one its fins. The paper fins are completely intact, with one slight tear in one, & light soiling to all. Grenade casing exhibits plumb colored patina & light pitting as does the  forward plunger.

Although the Union ordnance department held high hopes for the Ketchum grenade, the device proved largely ineffective, for the reason that it had to land directly on its nose to explode, which it seldom did. Confederates encountered this grenade during the siege of Port Hudson, LA., and took to putting out blankets to catch them, to throw back into Union lines…..straight up and down, with dire results for the men who’d thrown them.

A scarce and unusual piece.

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