Scarce Sawyer Shell Recovered by the Legendary Billy Spedeale / SOLD

Scarce Sawyer Shell Recovered by the Legendary Billy Spedeale - Inventory Number: ART 430 / SOLD

Sylvanus Sawyer patented this shell and fuze system on November 13, 1855, patent #13,799. Sawyer shells had poor battlefield performance because the lead jacket expanded when the shell burst, thereby absorbing the shock and not allowing the iron projectile body to fragment properly. This Sawyer pattern has six iron flanges under the lead covering that correspond with the rifling of the cannon bore. The patent date is stamped on the flat base. Stamped on the nose near the fuze is "11 1/2". This information was needed so that the factory worker would know how many ounces (11 1/2 ounces) of bursting charge to load inside the projectile. Most of the specimens recovered were fired by Holcomb's Vermont Battery during the Siege of Port Hudson, Louisiana. 

Inventory Number: ART 430 / SOLD