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Federal
DIAMETER: 3.63 inches |
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| This iron hot shot base was patented by Charles T. James, patent #34,950, on April 15, 1862. The iron base was designed to keep the red-hot projectile from making contact with the powder charge in the cannon, which could cause a premature discharge. It was used in a 3.67-inch rifled cannon and could also be fired from a 6-pounder (3.67-inch caliber) smoothbore cannon. An added feature with this design is that upon firing the iron base would itself would become a projectile; thereby, inflicting greater damage. Note the spherical 6-pounder (3.67-inch caliber) solid shot in the photograph that is used to illustrate how the red-hot ball would rest on the base. This pictured specimen was recovered from Fort Pillow, Tennessee. | ||||