This is an excavated specimen and was manufactured in a Federal arsenal following the design of John Dahlgren. The pattern employed a lead cup sabot with a groove in the middle on which greased twine was affixed for lubrication. This specimen retains its sabot. The bottom of the projectile was cast with five ribs onto which the lead cup sabot was affixed. Additionally, four raised ribs were placed on the side, which were slightly wider than the rifling grooves in the cannon and designed to guide the projectile through the bore, but without catching on the grooves. These projectiles were cast with a cavity, the casting sand was usually left in the core, the unfinished hole in the nose was then plugged with a small copper cap, giving it the effect of a light bolt. These "blind shells" never had an explosive charge, the substance sometimes found inside is foundry sand from the mold for the core. The shell has been cleaned and coated long ago, and could probably stand to be recoated.  A silver paint identification has been applied by noted author/collector Mac Mason. Due to some surface rust the painting on this shell does not “jump out” but it reads, “3 3/8”-INCH DAHLGREN SHELL COPPER RIVET IN NOSE, CHAMBER SAND FILLED, WEIGHT 12-LB [scroll]”.

A rare and displayable “Mac Mason” artillery shell.  [jet]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS,

CLICK ON ‘CONTACT US’ AT THE TOP OF ANY PAGE ON THE SITE,

THEN ON ‘LAYAWAY POLICY’.