The Parrott Rifle was invented by Captain Robert Parker Parrott in 1860 and produced at the West Point Foundry where he was the superintendent in multiple sizes, including these 10-Pounders which were designed for 2.9 inch shells earlier in the war and later for use with 3 inch shells. Some Parrott Rifles were ordered by the State of Virginia just before the war, and they were also copied by the Confederacy. They are cast iron and have large reinforcing bands in the breech section. The Parrott Rifles earned a dubious reputation for sometimes bursting without warning leading them to be feared by artillerymen, and they were slowly replaced by the 3-Inch Ordnance Rifles and retired after the war. This very solid example has "US" on top between the trunnions, "1861" on the left trunnion, "R.P.P./W.P.F." (Robert Parker Parrott and West Point Foundry) on the right trunnion, "CAV" above the cascabel, "No 53" and "10 PDR./2.9" on the muzzle, and 900 pound weight marking. Includes a carriage and accouterments.