Bomb civil war

[Odanscoils]

I have unloaded several Parrot shells that I dug years ago, but after an "expert" blew himself up in Richmond, I decided not to do it ever again.

I really don't see a reason to disarm it.
It's not an impact or detonation type trigger.
Though I understand some experimented with impact shells. Maybe what he found.
It's a fuse that was supposed to light and burn from the flame of black powder launching it.
Though occasionally the wick after rolling down the barrel ended up facing away from the powder charge and Not lighting.
As long as it's not in a fire. Or Grandpa doesn't put his cigar out in it. Should be fine.
Actually I believe if you sealed the fuse with epoxy.
Only being in an actual fire would be capable of igniting the fuse.

 

[Odanscoils]

Gotta love the ohshite plan.

 

[Rick W]

I really don't see a reason to disarm it.
It's not an impact or detonation type trigger.
Though I understand some experimented with impact shells. Maybe what he found.
It's a fuse that was supposed to light and burn from the flame of black powder launching it.
Though occasionally the wick after rolling down the barrel ended up facing away from the powder charge and Not lighting.
As long as it's not in a fire. Or Grandpa doesn't put his cigar out in it. Should be fine.
Actually I believe if you sealed the fuse with epoxy.
Only being in an actual fire would be capable of igniting the fuse.

I would have worried about having a fire in the house. I sold a lot of my stuff many years ago. I know of a non-dug Hotchkiss shell that I could have bought for 50.00, but wouldn't touch it.

 

[Odanscoils]

I would have worried about having a fire in the house. I sold a lot of my stuff many years ago. I know of a non-dug Hotchkiss shell that I could have bought for 50.00, but wouldn't touch it.

Which ones did they develope an impact Mercury Fulminate detenatator for ???

 

[Rick W]

Which ones did they develope an impact Mercury Fulminate detenatator for ???

Heck, I don't know.

 

[duggap]

The problem with not disarming a shell could be legal. State laws differ, but in TN we can own the shells, but if there was a house fire and a shell blew up, any injuries to fire crews or others would be your responsibility.

 

[fwcrawford]

I really don't see a reason to disarm it.
It's not an impact or detonation type trigger.
Though I understand some experimented with impact shells. Maybe what he found.
It's a fuse that was supposed to light and burn from the flame of black powder launching it.
Though occasionally the wick after rolling down the barrel ended up facing away from the powder charge and Not lighting.
As long as it's not in a fire. Or Grandpa doesn't put his cigar out in it. Should be fine.
Actually I believe if you sealed the fuse with epoxy.
Only being in an actual fire would be capable of igniting the fuse.

It stated that this type of shell did have a percussion type fuse in it.

 

[Odanscoils]

It stated that this type of shell did have a percussion type fuse in it.

Interesting.
I would Never attempt to drill a capsule full of a primary explosive.
Maybe soak in an acid that only attacks the non magnetic capsule. Typically brass or bronze.
At a very remote subsurface shack.
Then another chemical that will safely breakdown the primary. Most likely Mercury Fulminate.
Though now I'm finding potassium chlorate and sulfur and charcoal was used. A very touchy material.
Like modern flash powder,, potassium perchlorate and 400 mesh aluminum powder.
Though with hyper sensitivity and more power.
Nobel even lost a brother to it's attempted commercial manufacture.
So far I'm finding no shells detonated by percussion primers.
Percussion and friction primers were used to fire the cannons. And small arms. Mostly chlorate mixtures and later chlorate fulminate mixtures.
Per "Chemistry of Powder and Explosives" PDF


https://www.essentialcivilwarcurriculum.com/small-arms-and-ammunition.html

Civil War Artillery

Civil War History and Stories

www.nellaware.com

Civil War Ordnance Bureaus - Essential Civil War Curriculum

 

[fwcrawford]

Interesting.
I would Never attempt to drill a capsule full of a primary explosive.
Maybe soak in an acid that only attacks the non magnetic capsule. Typically brass or bronze.
At a very remote subsurface shack.
Then another chemical that will safely breakdown the primary. Most likely Mercury Fulminate.
Though now I'm finding potassium chlorate and sulfur and charcoal was used. A very touchy material.
Like modern flash powder,, potassium perchlorate and 400 mesh aluminum powder.
Though with hyper sensitivity and more power.
Nobel even lost a brother to it's attempted commercial manufacture.
So far I'm finding no shells detonated by percussion primers.
Percussion and friction primers were used to fire the cannons. And small arms. Mostly chlorate mixtures and later chlorate fulminate mixtures.
Per "Chemistry of Powder and Explosives" PDF


https://www.essentialcivilwarcurriculum.com/small-arms-and-ammunition.html

Civil War Artillery

Civil War History and Stories

www.nellaware.com

Civil War Ordnance Bureaus - Essential Civil War Curriculum

I found an artillary shell percussion fuse some years ago and it was used in a Shenkel shell… from my research they were 85% effective at detonating on impact, which sounds pretty good for back then.