M1861 3-inch Parrott Rifle - Field Artillery Museum - Fort Sill, Oklahoma
Posted by: gparkes
N 34° 39.943 W 098° 23.111
14S E 556330 N 3836145
The Field Artillery Museum located at Fort Sill in Oklahoma has a lot of very interesting items just waiting to be discovered by you.
Waymark Code: WM9E37
Location: Oklahoma, United States
Date Posted: 08/08/2010
Views: 4
An information card near this cannon reads:
M1863 3-inch Parrott Rifle
1862
Also known as a 10-lb. Parrott, this type of gun is easily recognized by the large reinforcing band at the breech. Designed by the superintendent of the West Point Foundry, Robert Parker Parrott these guns were cast iron with a tougher wroght iron reinforcing band at the breech. Parrott rifles were tough, inexpensive and easy to produce, major advantages in the Civil War. These advantages were offset by a tendency of some of the guns to burst just forward of the reinforcing band. Parrotts were produced in a number of sizes up to the massive 10-inch Parrott, which fired a 250-lb. shell. Used extensively by Union forces, the Parrott was also copied and produced by the Confederacy.
Admission is free, and access to Fort Sill can be done through the visitor's gate. Be sure to have your license, registration and proof of insurance available, because you are almost certain to be asked for. From the gate, you can ask for direction. At you first stop, you can get a map of important sites on the base. Be sure to go to plan additional time to go to the Indian Cemeteries. There you will find the graves of different Indian Tribes, including Geranimo. There are many sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places, from the old fort, cemeteries, and aviation related locations. Fort Sill can easily be a place to visit for a couple hours, or for the entire day.