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LOT 3261
Rare 1864 Dated Civil War West Point Foundry
U.S. Model 1863 3-Inch Parrott Rifle with Carriage -
Serial no. 35, 3 inch cal., 60 inch round bbl., black finish. The Parrott
Rifle was invented by Captain Robert Parker Parrott in 1860 and manufactured
at the West Point Foundry where he was the superintendent. Parrott rifles were
made in multiple sizes; with most designed for use with 2.9-inch shells earlier in
the war, almost half of those later converted for use with 3-inch shells, and others
originally manufactured for use with 3-inch shells like this example. Page 113 of
the book “Field Artillery Weapons of the Civil War” by James Hazlett, Edwin Olmstead,
and M. Hume Parks, states, “After terminating the production of 2.9-inch Parrott rifles on
13 April 1863, West Point Foundry was busy with other work. Not until 12 February 1864
were two dozen of the new 3-inch pieces ready for inspection by Captain Daniel Webster
Flagler. Apparently 279 (Model of 1863) 3-inch Parrott rifles were accepted from then through 4
September 1865. No evidence has been found that any were manufactured or marked for states or
agencies other than the Federal government.” Some Parrott Rifles were ordered by the State of
Virginia just before the war, and they were also copied by the Confederacy. They are cast iron and
have large reinforcing bands in the breech section. The Parrott rifles earned a dubious reputation
for sometimes bursting without warning leading them to be feared by artillerymen. This very solid
example features three-groove rifling, a tall blade sight mounted on top of the right trunnion,
marked “US” on top between the trunnions, “R.P.P.” (Robert Parker Parrott) on the right trunnion,
“3 IN BORE” marked above the knob, and “900 No 35 1864 W.P.F./D.W.F. 3 IN.” on the muzzle, which
indicates a 900 pound weight, serial number 35, 1864 date of manufacture, manufactured by
West Point Foundry, inspection initials of Captain Daniel Webster Flagler, and a 3 inch bore. The
consignor states there are about four of these in private hands. Includes later replacement carriage
and accoutrements.
1864 Dated Civil War West Point Foundry
U.S. Model 1863 3-Inch Parrott Rifle
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