A Man Used This Civil War Artifact as a Paperweight on His Desk. The Bomb Squad Told Him It Was Actually a Live Explosive

A Civil War artillery shell that had once served as a paperweight in Texas was discovered to be a live explosive, according to a bomb squad. The artifact, a 20-pound Parrott round used in the Civil War, was found on the desk of Steve Martin, who had acquired it from his son after finding it during a fishing trip. The shell, originally designed for a Parrott rifle, was used by the Union in battles such as Fort Pulaski in 1862 and Fort Sumter between 1863 and 1864.

Martin learned the truth about the shell's status after a military background truck driver advised him it was not a dummy bomb. Emergency personnel from Lackland Air Force Base inspected the device, confirming it was indeed live. Experts then safely detonated the shell at Camp Bullis, a military base north of San Antonio. Martin expressed disappointment that he could not preserve the artifact and vowed to be more cautious with unusual items in the future.

While surviving Civil War explosives are rare, they have been discovered periodically in recent years, often posing significant threats. In 2021, Maryland authorities safely detonated a cannonball round found near a national battlefield. In 2023, a ten-pound artillery shell was discovered at Gettysburg National Military Park, and in 2024, a 1,100-pound bomb was found in England, prompting a large evacuation.