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CS 6.4" LONG SMOOTHSIDED BROOKE SHELL

Currency:USD Category:Jewelry Start Price:1,100.00 USD Estimated At:2,200.00 - 3,200.00 USD
CS 6.4  LONG SMOOTHSIDED BROOKE SHELL
CS 6.4" LONG SMOOTHSIDED BROOKE SHELL. Excavated. John Mercer Brooke, a Florida born Annapolis graduate, was formerly a United States Navy Officer. At the outbreak of the Civil War he resigned his commission joining the Virginia State Navy and later the Confederate States Navy as Chief of Ordnance and Hydrography. He helped with the reconstruction of the U.S.S. Merrimack into the ironclad vessel the C.S.S. Virginia. He had charge of the Confederate experiments, with submarine boats, and was one of the contributors to the development of the torpedo. Tredegar Iron Works in Richmond and the Confederate Naval Ordnance Works at Selma, Alabama, produced the Brooke rifles used by the Confederacy. The Brooke rifle is similar to the US Parrott in appearance. Although this shell is not pictured in any reference book to date, the fuse is similar to the examples pictured on page 52 of Charles Jones', Artillery Fuses of the Civil War. Fuse is orig to shell and has been drilled on the sides for easy removal. Has an orig bolt and copper Brooke ratchet sabot unscrews. Where the lathe dog there is a letter "M" clearly stamped with another symbol above it. CONDITION: Shell is in unfired condition. Shell has light to moderate pitting. Fuse is in excellent condition except as noted above. Sabot has a push. 4-55904 JM16 (2,200-3,200)