April 24-25, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting, & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/24/2019
Attractive green painted Watertown arsenal 3.6" breech loading mortar as manufactured in 1898 with original brass data plate on steel mount. Serial number "41" matches on tube and mount with "JWR" inspectors initials. One original banded projectile is included with this lot. This was a friction primed "bag gun" breech loading mortar developed for the U.S. Army. Used mostly for coastal and fixed fortification defense. There were only 76 units build between June of 1890 and early 1904, procured in several batches. Four were sent via Tampa, FL to Cuba for the Spanish American War, and four were shipped and used in the Philippines during the insurrection. They were deemed obsolete in 1919 and many were scrapped or otherwise became decorative or memorial pieces. Only 12 or so mortars including this one made it into the hands of private collectors. The gun can be fired. CONDITION: Green repainted finish on metal parts with brass data plate turning a pleasing dull patina with fuse primer brass thumb piece presenting a more polished appearance. Bore is well worn and pitted and would benefit from being re-lined if one desired to shoot this wonderful antique piece US history. Steel breech block excellent in the white and very clean. A great piece for the turn of the century ordnance collector.
This is not a standard shippable item and will require 3rd party shipping or pickup arrangements to be made.