Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1861-12-25
The Production of Parrot Guns.

The government now has nearly three
hundred Parrott guns-ten, twenty and
thirty pounders-in the field. The work
ing merits of this species of ordnance have
been repeatedly tested by severe special ex-
periments, and in actual battle, and thor
Oughly proved. While the Government
is willing and anxious to try every new gun
that is brought to its notice, and offers am
pie and immediate rewards to inventors
who can achieve real improvements in ar
] tillery, it has so far expressed its confidence
in the permanent excellence of the ParrOtt
gun, as to contract to take all that can be
turned out at the West Point Foundry for
an unlimited period About 600 hands
are now employed in supplying this general
order, and are producing twenty guns
weekly.
The Parrott gun, upon which the Gov
ernment is content to stake such vast issues,
is made of cast iron, bored and rihed in the
ordinary way. Its chief original peculiar
ity is the addition of sleeve" of wrought
iron at the breech of the gun. This sleeve
is made by twisting bar iron spirally about
the breech and welding it under the ham,
mer into compact mass. 1t furnishes
an absolute protection against explosion at
the point of the gun most exposed to that
accident. From the sleeve to the muzzle
Of the gun, or about FIVE sixths of the whole
length, it is found that thickness of cast
iron much less than that ordinarily used,
is sufficient to ensure the safety of the
piece. The gun, therefore, combines re-
markable strength and security with extra
ordinary lightness, admirably adapting it
for flying batteries and all the exigencies
of field service The projectiles employed
in the gun are also the original invention
of Mr.. x. 2. Parrott, In general construc-
ton and appearance they resemble the COM
mon riied shell, and are ignited either by
percussion caps at the apex or by time
fuses; but on examining the base of the
missile, most ingenious novelty is observed. |
In manufacturing prCjeetiles for rifed guns,
the great problem is to fit them perfectly
to the bore, thus saving the explosive pow
er of the powder, and insuring accuracy of
firing. This is done by a variety of con-
trivances, most of which fulfill their object
more or less imperfectly. and have a dan
gerous aptitude of stripping off, from the
shell as it leaves the gun, and placing the
lives of bystanders in jeopardy. In firing
over the heads of troops at distant enemy,
friends may be exposed to imminent peril
quite as much as foes. Mr. Parrott con-
4uers this difficulty, which has been fatal
to many varieties of the rifed gun, by two
distinct inventions One is a wrought
iron cup. a triAe larger in diameter than
The shell, which is east upon 1t, the c0u-
ave side of the cup being outward and
placed next to the powder in the gun. The
explosion of the powder forces the rim of
he cup into the groves (Which it fits with
perfect accuracy but does not operate to
ietach 1t from the she'll after it leaves the
gun. The second invention is brass ring
attached to the she'll in casting, and subse-
Iuently loosened at points opposite the
.roves by blows of a chisel, so as to per-
nit the powder, at the moment of explo- !
non, to pry out the ring and fit it exactly
nto the groves. Both inventions are
ound to work equally well. Some of the
orCjectiles are made with one attachment .
md some with the other. The results J
how how the explosive force of the powder
5 ecOnOmised by these processes. With !
harges of powder weighing One-t tenth as
much as the missile, at an elevation of Is ,
Iegrees, a 30 pound shell was thrown
1874 yards, 20 h. shell 1900 wards.
nd 10 lb. shell 1920 yOrds. At an
ngle of 80 deg, 10 FOUNDER threw its
hell 6 900 yards, or over three and third
niles The range and the other points of
he Parrott one hundred FOUNDER have not
ct been completely tested, but will be in |:
short time at Fort Richmond, under the
ireetion of Col. Delafeld. This gun has 5
bore of 6 40 inches and is l26 inches |
'ng Two only have been cast besides !
be one at Fort Richmond One of them !,
) at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and the
ther Fortress Monroe.
A small portion of the resources of the
Vest Point Foundry are devoted to the
manufacture of the old pattern Dahlgreeu
uns, and another novel species of cannon
y the inventor of that well known weapon.
his new kind of gun is peculiar only in E
be fact that it is cast without trunnions. .
hose indispensable portions of the piece
re fitted on afterwards. Capt. Dahlgreen 7
aims that when gun is cast with its
runniOns on, the iron in their immediate d
is weaker than any other
ortiOns of the gun and more liable to be
raeked in fring.-N Y. Jo,r. of Com.