BRITISH 6.4” WHITWORTH SHELL.

BRITISH 6.4” WHITWORTH SHELL. Excavated. Unfired. Sir Joseph Whitworth was probably the best mechanical engineer Britain had during his lifetime. Most of Whitworth’s achievements represented international firsts. He had forty-eight patents from 1834-1878, for machinery, artillery projectiles, cannons, tools, armor, and other improvements. One of his better known inventions was the Whitworth cannon and rifle with their corresponding projectiles. Whitworth cannon were used at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Vicksburg, Mississippi, Fredericksburg, Virginia, Fort Fisher, North Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, as well as other American Civil War battlefields. Purportedly from the Confederate blockade-runner Ella, that ran aground off Fort Fisher, North Carolina. This shell came with shipping plugs fixed into the fuse bushing. It may have been dumped overboard by the Ella as she tried to elude Union Blockade ships. Such a gun with British-made projectiles would have posed a significant threat to the Union fleet. Shipping plug is removable. CONDITION: Salt water shell. Exterior has a light restoration finish with some slight cracking to finish. 4-55977 JM9 (2,000-3,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2005

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2038	$2,242.00	BRITISH 6.4” WHITWORTH SHELL. Excavated. Unfired. Sir Joseph Whitworth was probably the best mechanical engineer Britain had during his lifetime. Most of Whitworth’s achievements represented international firsts. He had forty-eight patents from 1834-1878, for machinery, artillery projectiles, cannons, tools, armor, and other improvements. One of his better known inventions was the Whitworth cannon and rifle with their corresponding projectiles. Whitworth cannon were used at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Vicksburg, Mississippi, Fredericksburg, Virginia, Fort Fisher, North Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, as well as other American Civil War battlefields. Purportedly from the Confederate blockade-runner Ella, that ran aground off Fort Fisher, North Carolina. This shell came with shipping plugs fixed into the fuse bushing. It may have been dumped overboard by the Ella as she tried to elude Union Blockade ships. Such a gun with British-made projectiles would have posed a significant threat to the Union fleet. Shipping plug is removable. CONDITION: Salt water shell. Exterior has a light restoration finish with some slight cracking to finish. 4-55977 JM9 (2,000-3,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2005 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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