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  1. #1
    us
    Oct 2005
    Northern, Michigan
    whatever
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    All Types Of Treasure Hunting

    Canon Ball Found Champlin, Minnesota

    I just purchased a dug canon ball off ebay that the seller says was found on farm land in Champlin, Minnesota.

    Is it a real canon ball or is it a ball for a Ball Mill? See BIG picture below

    The ball is 3 inches in diameter and the seller says it weighs 4 lbs.

    Okay, what do you think? Did I get burned?

    If not, what can you tell me about Champlin, Minnesota, during the Civil War? (or that general time period).

    Thanks,

    M. Badger
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Canon Ball Found Champlin, Minnesota-bigball.jpg  
    "Everything is an anomaly" Michigan Badger

  2. #2
    us
    Dec 2004
    Troy X5
    7,144
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    Re: Canon Ball Found Champlin, Minnesota

    "uncle"zeb it "may" be one of those concrete mixing/smashing balls not sure i remember postings from others about them ole omni was usually all over it was in a few of his posts....
    All animals are equal, but some are more equal then others. -George Orwell

  3. #3
    us
    Oct 2005
    Northern, Michigan
    whatever
    6,611
    30 times
    All Types Of Treasure Hunting

    Re: Canon Ball Found Champlin, Minnesota

    I sure hope not. I know about the cement mixing balls but from the picture it doesn't look like one of those to me.

    And too, assuming the guy was telling me the truth, the ball was found by his father back in the mid 1920's.
    "Everything is an anomaly" Michigan Badger

  4. #4
    Charter Member

    May 2005
    7,230
    13 times

    Re: Canon Ball Found Champlin, Minnesota

    Badger,

    you mentioned, "Civil War", are you sure?

    Could it be prior to the Civil War?

    British in this area of Illinois used 2 1/2 and 2 11/16 inch balls
    for their swivel guns. Was a 3 inch obsolete prior to Civil war?

    I'm almost certain the size your talking about, (3 pounder) was
    obsolete prior to the Civil War.

    Several (5) have been found S/W of the City of Chicago in an
    area known as Palos. French, American, and English are known
    to have passed through the area.

    have a good un...........
    SHERMANVILLE ILLINOIS
    In the academies many books, at the circus many sacks of peanuts, at the club rooms many cigar butts.

  5. #5
    bk
    bk is offline
    us
    Jan 2005
    Minnesota
    Minelab Explorer SE pro, Minelab Explorer XS, Garrett Freedom II (3), Garrett pro-pointer.
    1,387
    Metal Detecting
    Banner Finds (1)
    Honorable Mentions (1)

    Re: Canon Ball Found Champlin, Minnesota

    Champlin is a suburb of the Twin Cities.
    There were a number of forts in and around this area in the 1860's. Our detecting club was given exclusive permission to detect one of these forts on private property. It was only occupied for one year. (1863) It was a little further west of Champlin, but there were other forts in that vicinity that were used to protect settlers in the region during the Dakota Conflict. (Check out the Dakota Conflict on the Web).
    I have seen many very nice CW artifacts found mainly along the Minnesota river.
    I would have no reason not to believe that this was a legitimate find.
    Nice Find!

  6. #6
    us
    Oct 2005
    Northern, Michigan
    whatever
    6,611
    30 times
    All Types Of Treasure Hunting

    Re: Canon Ball Found Champlin, Minnesota

    Quote Originally Posted by SHERMANVILLE ILLINOIS
    Badger,

    you mentioned, "Civil War", are you sure?

    Could it be prior to the Civil War?

    British in this area of Illinois used 2 1/2 and 2 11/16 inch balls
    for their swivel guns. Was a 3 inch obsolete prior to Civil war?

    I'm almost certain the size your talking about, (3 pounder) was
    obsolete prior to the Civil War.

    Several (5) have been found S/W of the City of Chicago in an
    area known as Palos. French, American, and English are known
    to have passed through the area in the 17th and 18th centuries.

    have a good un...........
    SHERMANVILLE ILLINOIS
    Good point! I was thinking that very thing myself.

    Also there's the Fort Ridgely attack by the Santee Sioux in 1862. That took place in the Minnesota River Valley which is about 40 miles from Champlin if I recall correctly.

    That was one big battle!

    But you're right, it could have been from some time before the Civil War started. Again, if I recall correctly, the 3 inch smooth bores were more popular prior to 1862.

    Oh, by-the-way, do you happen to know the exact diameter of those stinking cement balls? It seems to me they were under 3 inches.
    "Everything is an anomaly" Michigan Badger

  7. #7
    us
    Oct 2005
    Northern, Michigan
    whatever
    6,611
    30 times
    All Types Of Treasure Hunting

    Re: Canon Ball Found Champlin, Minnesota

    Quote Originally Posted by bk
    Champlin is a suburb of the Twin Cities.
    There were a number of forts in and around this area in the 1860's. Our detecting club was given exclusive permission to detect one of these forts on private property. It was only occupied for one year. (1863) It was a little further west of Champlin, but there were other forts in that vicinity that were used to protect settlers in the region during the Dakota Conflict. (Check out the Dakota Conflict on the Web).
    I have seen many very nice CW artifacts found mainly along the Minnesota river.
    I would have no reason not to believe that this was a legitimate find.
    Nice Find!
    Hey, thanks much bk! 8) I posted above before I saw your post.

    This info is very useful INDEED! You made my day!

    Also thanks SHERMANVILLE ILLINOIS and dekalb33.

    Keep it coming!

    Badger
    "Everything is an anomaly" Michigan Badger

  8. #8
    Charter Member

    May 2005
    7,230
    13 times

    Re: Canon Ball Found Champlin, Minnesota

    In the academies many books, at the circus many sacks of peanuts, at the club rooms many cigar butts.

  9. #9
    us
    Dec 2004
    Troy X5
    7,144
    4 times
    All Types Of Treasure Hunting

    Re: Canon Ball Found Champlin, Minnesota

    im sorry no worries just putting out a thought nothing neg. just well its ebay is all...
    All animals are equal, but some are more equal then others. -George Orwell

  10. #10

    May 2005
    Holden Beach,North Carolina
    453

    Re: Canon Ball Found Champlin, Minnesota

    Not saying your ball isn't a real cannon ball. but buyers beware. I worked in the mining industry for 29 years ,we had 3 big machines called a ball mill almost like a giant rock polisher it ground up a pea size gravel of the ore we mined into a fine powder.I know where there is a tractor trailer load of this the mine is not i operation any more any one want to help sell these. just kidding they were the wight and diameter you have . I have 4 in my garage I welded a bar and made curling weights .
    muddyknees
    Kill them all let god sort them out

  11. #11

    Aug 2004
    920

    Re: Canon Ball Found Champlin, Minnesota

    There sure wasn't much action up in Minnesota during the Civil War, but I am sure there were some forts. I think they had more problems with the Indians than the rebels. There were no real Union/Confederate battles in that state that I know of.

    There was a 6 pound smooth bore cannon ball used a lot by both sides early in the war. It is 3.67 inches in diameter. Go to this site and take a look around http://www.civilwarartillery.com/

    Happy Tesoro user - Mid Missouri

  12. #12
    us
    Oct 2005
    Northern, Michigan
    whatever
    6,611
    30 times
    All Types Of Treasure Hunting

    Re: Canon Ball Found Champlin, Minnesota

    Quote Originally Posted by muddyknees
    Not saying your ball isn't a real cannon ball. but buyers beware. I worked in the mining industry for 29 years ,we had 3 big machines called a ball mill almost like a giant rock polisher it ground up a pea size gravel of the ore we mined into a fine powder.I know where there is a tractor trailer load of this the mine is not i operation any more any one want to help sell these. just kidding they were the wight and diameter you have . I have 4 in my garage I welded a bar and made curling weights .
    muddyknees
    I'd guess the big difference would be that the rock balls are steel and the canon are iron. And too, there would be a very slight difference in diameter.

    "Everything is an anomaly" Michigan Badger

 

 

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