The family of Parrott rifles is distinguishable by the reinforcing band of wrought iron around the breech, in the case of the 10-pounder about 13 inches wide. Designed before the war by West Point Graduate Captain Robert Parker Parrott, this gun was longer than a Napoleon, sleeker in design. The Parrott went through several improvements during the war. The first weapon has a 2.9-inch bore with three lands and groves and included a slight muzzle swell. In 1863 the bore was increased to 3.0 inches so it could use the same shell as the 3" ordnance Rifle. At this time the swell was removed. The 3-inch Parrott was standardized the following year and most 2.9-inch guns were withdrawn from service.

The West Point Arsenal manufactured Parrott Rifles in Cold Spring, New York. The 10 and 20-pounder sizes were the most common, they also made 30, 100, 200, 300 and even a 600 pound version of the same weapon. The tube is 74 inches long and weighs 899 lbs. The weight of the barrel was eight hundred pounds. The usual powder charge was one pound and the range at 5 degrees elevations was between 2400 and 3000 yards. A solid iron bolt was designed to be fired by the Parrott field guns; however, the most common ammunition used was shell and case with various time fuses. While the Parrott Rifle was considered an accurate long-range field piece the more effective three-inch Ordnance Gun eventually replaced it.

Number of different southern companies made confederate copies. The Tredegar Iron Works in Richmond Virginia was the most successful and mostly the Army of Northern Virginia used these cannons. Other southern companies made attempts a attempt to copy the Parrott cannon but with limited success.

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