The poor quality of iron used in the Confederate manufactured projectiles is
evident in this specimen. When the sabot was forced into the grooves of the rifle during
firing, the expansion often broke the iron around the base of the projectile. Due to this
chipping problem, Dr. Read developed a groove to allow the sabot room for forward
displacement during expansion. This groove between the sabot and the iron body is known as
the "Read safety groove."
Note the
impression of the seven lands and grooves from the 3-inch wrought iron (ordnance) rifle on
the copper sabot. This pictured specimen is located in the West Point Museum
in New York.
