Confederate

Dahlgren

 

DIAMETER:  6.3 inches
GUN: Rifled and banded 32-pounder Smoothbore, 6.4-inch Caliber
LENGTH: 12 inches
WEIGHT: About 61 pounds
CONSTRUCTION: Common Shell
SABOT: Lead
FUZING: Confederate Water Cap

A Confederate copy of the Federal Navy Dahlgren, probably an experimental projectile.   The Dahlgren was not successful, almost always throwing the sabot.  The wide, raised, vertical surfaces are not pre-engraving, but merely bearing surfaces.  Soaped rope packing was used in the space between the sabot and projectile body.  This specimen was recovered from Vicksburg, Mississippi.  This pattern projectile is extremely rare!