Reported by 1 source

The short version

  • A Texas man contacted authorities after a truck driver with military experience identified his desk paperweight as a potential live explosive.
  • Bomb disposal experts from Lackland Air Force Base confirmed the item was an unexploded Parrott round used during the American Civil War.
  • The twenty-pound shell was transported to a military range in Camp Bullis and safely detonated, highlighting ongoing risks of historical ordnance.

A decorative object that had sat on a Texas man’s desk for several years was identified as a live explosive from the American Civil War. Steve Martin, who acquired the item from his son after it was found during a fishing trip, had used the heavy metal sphere as a paperweight and conversation piece. He and his guests assumed the artifact was an inert dummy round, unaware of the potential danger it posed in a residential setting.

The situation shifted when Martin engaged in casual conversation with a truck driver who possessed military training. The driver examined the object and expressed concern that it appeared to be functional ordnance rather than a safe replica. Acting on this warning, Martin contacted the Atascosa County Sheriff’s Office to report the suspected explosive device.

News Journal

Emergency responders, including explosive disposal specialists from Lackland Air Force Base and local medical personnel, arrived at Martin’s residence to assess the threat. After a careful inspection, experts confirmed that the object was indeed a live Parrott round. This type of artillery shell was designed for use with muzzle-loading cannons developed in 1860 and saw significant combat deployment during the conflict.

The twenty-pound shell was transported more than fifty miles to an explosives range at Camp Bullis, a military training facility north of San Antonio. There, authorities conducted a controlled detonation to neutralize the hazard. While Martin expressed disappointment that the historical artifact could not be preserved, he acknowledged the necessity of the safety measures taken.

Incidents involving unexploded Civil War ordnance are rare but do occur periodically across the United States. Similar discoveries have been reported in Maryland and Pennsylvania in recent years, often resulting in safe detonations by bomb squads. These events underscore the persistent risks associated with historical military debris that remains unstable long after conflicts have ended.

Sources behind this briefing

Go to the original reporting

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