NAVY 20-POUNDER PARROTT RIFLE MODEL

This piece ranks among those scarce artillery models obviously built at great expense to replicate or precede the full-sized version with all materials and dimensions exact. Every measurement (to scale) and material of the barrel model matches that of the full-sized version. The exact purpose of these painstakingly-crafted models isn’t always clear, I’ve only found one with documentation explaining the exact purpose, and in that case the barrel was built to pre-determine the weight and preponderance of the full-sized version. This example may have been for the same purpose as it also lacks a realistic carriage, being held on a cast bronze display stand. Location: Privately-owned, Delaware. Provenance: Dr. Gerald Klaz collection, Santa Monica, CA

All of some 3000 Parrott Rifles of various sizes were made at West Point Foundry, beginning in 1861. The different sizes had nearly identically-constructed barrels, basically cast iron but with a wrought-iron cylinder shrunk onto the breech to add strength in the high-pressure portion of the barrel. These cannon were rifled and capable of firing elongated projectiles accurately to targets miles away if necessary. This design was the invention of former Army officer Robert P. Parrott, then superintendent of the foundry. Prior to his invention, cast iron cannons occasionally exploded, often killing and maiming crew members. Some of Parrott’s larger cannons exploded, but those accidents were attributed to factors such as defective ammunition, loading technique, etc. rather than any defect in the weapon itself. The Navy used several sizes of Parrott rifles, from the 20-pounder (1750 pound barrel) through the eight-inch (16,000 pound barrel.). The Navy acquired some 366 of the 20-pounder Parrotts during the Civil War and installed them aboard ships on both truck (wheeled) and pivot (fixed) carriages. The army received 284 for use on field carriages. 

Facts about the 20-pounder Parrott: Crew: 9 men, 1 boy. Powder charge: 2 lbs. Barrel nominal length: 83.5 in. Rifling: 5 lands and grooves, right-hand progressive twist, 1 turn/10 ft. Firing lock: Standard Navy bronze percussion lock with sliding hammer. Maximum range at 15 degrees elevation: 4400 yards with 18 3/4 lb. Shell, time of flight 17 1/4 sec.