Port Hudson shell ID please...

[Aquachigger]

I have a friend of a friend that recently found this shell in Port Hudson. Anyone care to educate me on this one? I can't find an exact match in the books.

[emike123]

That is a Sawyer without its lead coat or fuse

[misipirelichtr]

Rommack can discuss this better than me, but there is at least some possibility that the Confederates recovered this shell and cut the lead off to melt down for bullets.  I've got a Sawyer shell from Port Hudson where about 40% of the lead was carved off - you can clearly see the hack marks from a knife or small hatchet.  Your friend found a nice shell - congratulations to them

[John D. Bartleson Jr.]

Hey Chigger,
    Can you give us the shell diameter, length, fuze hole diameter and TPI?   Thanks. John

[rommack]

Great find ! A high percentage of the 3.67" sawyers found at port hudson tore their sabots and damaged their fuse. Hardly any i have seen tore all  the lead off.  Also the fuse seems to be removed rather than ripped out upon impact. I think its more likely the Confederates salvaged the lead and removed the fuse.  Lead was at a premium during the siege; the Johnny's were molding over two thousand bullets a day!  So in a way you have a rare union shell and a great Confederate story  . 

[Aquachigger]

Thanks guys. I don't have possession of the shell so can't take any measurements. I do appreciate the quick response!

[John D. Bartleson Jr.]

Mike is probably correct with his I.D. but I have two thoughts:
1. the fuze hole looks to small for the 1.5 inch Sawyer combination Fuze.
2. the tapered tail closely resembles the Blakely, Preston made shell.  I wonder if the shallow flanges can be found under all that rust?
Regards,
John

[emike123]

The fuse hole is for the iron post part of the fuse.  The wafer shaped anvil cap went over and around it and screwed into the lead coating only.  A "natural" cut-away of the fuse system is shown in this picture of a Sawyer shell from Port Hudson which was exposed after being fired.

[John D. Bartleson Jr.]

Ah, okay, Jones page 33., the4 Percussion fuze. Is there a cut-away of that fuze any place?  I had forgotten about it to tell you the truth.  What is inside the brass fitting? John

[John D. Bartleson Jr.]

Is this the same model?  John

[John D. Bartleson Jr.]

No one knows?    John

[emike123]

It is the 3.67" version of this shell.  See 1993 D&G page 296

[John D. Bartleson Jr.]

Mike, was it a breech loader?  It would appear dangerous to ram this one.  John

[John D. Bartleson Jr.]

Will someone post photos of the percussion fuse, top, side, bottom views?  John

[Pete George]

John D. Bartleson Jr. wrote:
> Is this the same model? [image of a lead-coated Flanged Sawyer shell]

  No. The Flanged Sawyer, which is the type in the image you posted, has axial iron flanges underneath the lead coating, which follows the shape of the flanges.  The shell posted by Aquachigger is the non-flanged version of Sawyer.

Regards,
Pete