Federal

Hotchkiss

 

 

DIAMETER: 2.94 inches
GUN: 3-inch wrought iron (ordnance) rifle
LENGTH: 7 1/8 inches
WEIGHT: 9 pounds
CONSTRUCTION: Case shot
SABOT: Lead band
FUZING: Lead fuze plug, paper time fuze
This unfired Hotchkiss projectile is of early manufacture, as evident by the absence of flame grooves. When the projectile was fired, the expanding lead band (sabot) sometimes sealed the bore so well that no flame could pass, thereby keeping the shell's paper time fuze from igniting. This led to the development of flame grooves, patented by Benjamin Berkeley Hotchkiss on June 7, 1864, patent #43,027. Early war Hotchkiss shells have no flame grooves and are found with metal fuze plugs. There are two round spanner holes on the top of the lead fuze plug to aid in its installation, rather than the usual slotted variety.  This projectile most likely contains iron case-shot balls instead of the usual lead balls.