ID help / CW fuse

[RJH02]

I was hunting at a great location West of Fredricksburg today and found this fuse and I was hoping someone can tell me more about it. Thanks

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

It is definitely a civil war artillery shell's "impact-detonation" fuze. At the time, such fuzes were usually called a Percussion fuze. The one you found was designed and patented by John P. Schenkl. Thus, it bears his name (and the US patent-date) on its face. Strictly a yankee-made fuze, by the way.

Congratulations! If the whole thing is as undamaged as it looks in your photo, it would retail at a civil war relic show for about $75 to $95. You may see these patent-marked Schenkl fuzes priced higher elsewhere, but I'm talking about how many dollar bills change hands, not "the sticker price." ;-)

 

[RJH02]

Thank you for the info. I will post a better pic shortly.

 

[relichunters]

Great find