is this a side loader? I have my doubts

[scottfromgeorgia]

Sold as:  Confederate Read Parrot complete with sabot, side loader plug located near the base of the shell,

http://historical.ha.com/common/view_image_only.php?width=2999&height=1016&img=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.ha.com%2Flf%3Fset%3Dpath%255B9%252F0%252F4%252F7%252F9047587%255D%26call%3Durl%255Bfile%253Aproduct.chain%255D&alt=Military+%26amp%3B+Patriotic%3ACivil+War%2C+Nice+Group+of+Battlefield-Recovered+Civil+War+Artillery+Shellsincluding%3A...+%28Total%3A+5+%29+Image+%233

[Selma Brooke Gunner]

I am thinking possibly an incendary shell

[CarlS]

It is too low down the side to really go into the powder chamber there.  That part is thick to hold the sabot and withstand the cannon charge.  Without having it in my hand for a close look I tend to think it's a bad place on the shell about to pop.

[John D. Bartleson Jr.]

Certainly not a side filling hole or incendiary of any kind.
Perhaps an attempt to inert.
Can anyone tell what kind of sabot it has, wrought iron or brass?  If brass it could be an inerting hole to get at the canned burster.
John

[scottfromgeorgia]

My view was the same as Carl's.

[CarlS]

John,

The bursting cans are found in wrought iron saboted Parrotts as well.

[John D. Bartleson Jr.]

Carl,
   Very good, I should look at my own book, page 98-99.  Then perhaps that is an inerting hole if that is a wrought iron sabot in the photo. It is too perfect to be a casting flaw.
Regards,
John

[divedigger]

Most likely that is just porosity that was plugged at the foundry

[Pete George]

  Definitely an iron sabot.

  I agree with Col. Bartleson and CWArtillery, the "hole" is located too close to the shell's bottom to be able to connect into its powder-cavity.  Based on size-comparison with the 1/2"-long sabot, the hole is only 3/8" above the iron main body's end.  That puts it well-below the bottom of the shell's powder-cavity.  For that reason, it can't be either a "sideloader" hole or a deactivation-drilling hole. See the photos at the end of this post, which show this type of shell's base is 1-&-1/2"-thick below the powder-cavity. (It is approximately the same thickness whether it is US-made or CS-made.)  A side-hole at that location would go into the shell's thick solid base, not into the shell's cavity.

  Also, the "side-hole" on that shell is too small to fit case-shot balls into.

  I believe Divedigger is on the right track about it.  For this type of shell, the ironcasting mold's filler hole was located at the outer edge of the shell's main iron body, very slightly above the sabot.  A "casting irregularity" tended to occur at that area.  I've seen such irregularities there many times on this type of shell.

Note: I modified this post to correct my mis-typing of Col. Bartleson's name.

Regards,
Pete

[CarlS]

Does looks like a filled hole to me too.  See below.

[John D. Bartleson Jr.]

Pete,
  Can I have the pay to go along with the advancement in rank you gave me?
I think you have confused me with Col. John Biemick, USA ret.
I am a CWO4/EOD, USN ret.
Cheers,
John
P.s. I have never heard of a side loader hole being at the bottom of a rifled projectile. They are usualoly just below the ogive..
If that were a casting flaw the gunner would have never loaded it as it would surely have caused an inbore explosion.
The sabot appears to have been fired.

[Pete George]

  Oops.  Pardon me please, John.  My brain is still semi-fried from lack of sleep due to the Richmond relic show.  When properly rested, my brain does know you are a Navy man.

  Is there a comparative Army rank equivalent for Chief Warrant Officer 4?

Regards,
Pete

[Selma Hunter]

Pete -

Yes, as to Army ranks.  I was a mere CW2 when I got out after just over 2 years active duty.  CW4's were looked at as God's since we had no higher ranks to look to in uniform.  Sargent Major's (like Navy Master Chiefs) were similarly viewed with awe just to keep the record straight. 

By the time a general got to 3 stars he was beginning to get some respect (sometimes!). 

CW3's were highly respected and sometimes we were even allowed to talk with them.  If we were allowed to DRINK with them we figured we were on track for early promotion.  Normally that meant trying to stay on our feet until we had been at it for at least an hour or two before the typical alcoholic "stall, spin, crash sequence".   Anyone outlasting the CW3's present (rarely more than one at a time) was considered to have been given a temporary one evening promotion of at least 1/2 additional rank.  Indeed, I was "promoted" to WO1 1/2 on several occasions! 

Later (after my time & not that it mattered in my case) the Army created a "super warrant" rank of CW5.  A close friend and flight school classmate now living in Mesa, Arizona was one of the very first to get to that level back around 1980 or so.  He tells stories of O7's visiting his office building at Ft. Campbell just to see one of the "rare birds" of Army aviation in person.  True stuff all this!

All ranks below full colonel were expected 'tho not required by protocol to salute the ranking CW4 first. 

Ahhh - but to be young, bullet-proof and immortal again!

Lockridge

[John D. Bartleson Jr.]

Bill - Bless you my son.
Pete - Army does have CWO4 but not with an EOD M.O.S., but not to worry.

With regard to the Parrott, does anyone know who owns it? Perhaps the owner might reveal.

[emike123]

Looks like it is up for auction at the upcoming Heritage Auction.  I have found their experts' knowledge of artillery projectiles to be "mixed."