Item Number: A01880

Item Title: Ultra Rare Large Hotchkiss

Price: $4050

Shipping: Not included

Provenance: US

Type: Hotchkiss

Size: 6.4 Inch (100 Pounder)

Sabot: Lead Band (missing)

Fuse: Wood Adapter

Book:
Jack Bell page 253

Location Recovered: Charleston, SC Area

Description:
Offered here is one of the rarest if not the rarest projectile we have ever offered. This is a Hotchkiss for the 100 pounder Parrott rifle. (I believe the complete shell would be too heavy for a rifled 32-lber gun.) They are likely so rare due to lead so quickly sealing the rifling and causing high bore pressure. The inventor of the Parrott gun, Robert Parrott, forbade the use of lead saboted shells in his Parrott guns due to this and, likely, to ensure his projectiles were purchased for his guns.

This is the Hotchkiss shown in Jack Bell's book "Civil War Heavy Explosive Ordnance" on page 253 and is owned by Jack Bell. Jack does not know of another example of this shell. So this is a chance to own a one of a kind!

This shell was recovered in Charleston, SC and was presumably part of that siege. The iron is good and the shell is preserved and stable. There is a wooden fuse adapter in the fuse hole. I can't tell if it is period surplus or a modern reproduction. The base cup that is with the shell is likely one found at the West Point proving grounds as the iron is in super shape though the cup had the sides broken off when fired.

I will have this shell at the Mansfield Show on May 2nd if it doesn't sell before then.

Don't miss out on this super rare shell with good provenance.

Shell is inert, cleaned and coated.