Item Number: A01600

Item Title: Superb Non-Battlefield Ketchum 3-lber Grenade

Price: $2500

Shipping: Not included

Provenance: US

Type: Grenade

Size: 3 Pounder

Sabot: N/A

Fuse: Plunger

Book:
Dickey and George (1993 Edition) Page 497

Location Recovered: Non-Battlefield

Description:This is a super fine example of a non-battlefield Ketchum grenade. They came in 3 sizes described as 1 pounder, 3 pounder and 5 pounder. This is the middle size: 3 pounder. The grenade body had a nipple down inside a white metal sleeve with a percussion cap on it. A plunger was inserted into this sleeve with a disk on the forward end that on impact would push the plunger into the percussion cap to detonate the device. They functioned like a lawn dart such that the device was thrown and the tail kept the impact end forward to help ensure it would go off. Many were used at Port Hudson along with some at Petersburg, Vicksburg and in Kentucky.

This example is in super cheery condition. We've had a handful of dug ones over the years but these just don't come up. The iron is uncoated but has really good naturally dark patina. The white metal sleeve is in super condition and you can clearly see the nipple for the percussion cap down inside it. There is no cap on it. The slider is very nice as well and easily inserts and removes. Additionally, this slider has the safety wire on it that helps keep the plunger in place. I don't recall seeing this on one before. The paper and wood finned tail section was sold to me as original and it does have the patent date (Patented August 20, 1861) on it but it appears to me to be a Bannerman's made one at the turn of the century but maybe it is original. They sold some surplus ones and made fins for them.

This is just a super relic that belongs front and center in a collection.