Item Number: A01151

Item Title: 3.3in Read percussion fused shell

Price: $1000

Shipping: Not included

Provenance: CS

Type: Read shell

Size: 3.3in

Sabot: Copper tapered ring

Fuse: 2pc CS percussion (West Point style)

Book:
Dickey and George (1993 Edition) Page 269

Location Recovered: Augusta, GA

Description:This is an extremely difficult to obtain shell. 3.3" rifled guns were rare and generally, or only, came out of Louisiana and were used by artillery units from there, the most famous being the Washington Artillery but others like Watson's flying artillery hailed from there also and used 3.3s.

Surviving tubes are scarce, and none I know of are in private hands. There are one or two at Trophy Point at West Point and that spot is well worth visiting.

In addition to the rarity of the caliber, the South was starved for percussion fuses. Here we have a pristine CS 2pc percussion fuse that comes out of the shell with ease. The fuse itself is worth $225.

The shell has been run through electrolysis and coated to inhibit future rusting. The sheen on the shell is not as shiny as the pictures make it out to be -- a function of Winter sunlight glare!