What exactly do I have here? And is it probably live?

[BladeRunner2019]

Found this today at a skirmish site that has been hit hard over the years by others. Any information or suggestions on what to do with it would be appreciated.

Weight is approximately 8.9 pounds. Diameter is roughly 4.75 inches.

Other than a canister shot, this is my first artillery of any kind.

Thanks for any insight.

Gratuitous dirt porn. Those roots were tough.

 

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[smokeythecat]

Yes, it's a Civil War spherical shot (cannonball) and it most likely still live since the fuse is apparently intact.

 

[Gare]

Picture of the bottom please

 

[BladeRunner2019]

Yes, it's a Civil War spherical shot (cannonball) and it most likely still live since the fuse is apparently intact.

Thank you.

Was this likely used by one side or the other?

 

[civilman1]

You should be able to tell after a good bath. Fuses were different from one side to the other.I say cut that puppy in half after you clean it

 

[BladeRunner2019]

I cleaned the dirt out of the fuse hole. It's about an inch deep down to the green area.

 

[devldog]

What a great piece of CW History. Great Save. This oughtta add to your collection.

 

[ecmjamsit]

It could explode and kill

Maybe have an expert defuse it.

 

[scott9050]

 

[Dfxcobb]

looks like a 12lb...the fuse appears to gone but adapter is still intact...I have cut a 6lb case shot in half,,wish i didnt took away the authinicy.

 

[BladeRunner2019]

looks like a 12lb...the fuse appears to gone but adapter is still intact...I have cut a 6lb case shot in half,,wish i didnt took away the authinicy.

I appreciate your insight. I was briefly considering cutting it in half, but decided against it.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Bladerunner 2019, please pardon the delay in replying. I've been ill, and did not see your message until tonight. Your find is a Confederate 12-Pounder caliber "Common-Shell"... with "Common" being the civil war artilleryman's term for "plain/ordinary" explosive shell, meaning, it contained nothing but gunpowder, no antipersonnel balls/slugs.

I'm sure it is a 12-Pounder Common-Shell, not a Case-Shot, because the exact weight your reported is correct for that type of 12-Pounder shell. A 12-Pounder Sideloader Case-Shot weighed within a few ounces of 10.0 pounds. A 12-Pounder Polygonal Cavity Type 1 shell weighed about 7.5 pounds, and the Type 2 version weighed about 9.5 pounds.


Your shell has the typical 1863-65 Confederate timefuze-adapter plug, usually made of copper, and threaded to screw into the fuzehole for a better 'seal" than the old-style wooden fuzeplug provided.

Although your shell still has its simple Blackpowder bursting-charge, please accept my professional assurance that it will not explode from merely being dropped. Also, it is safe to carry it in your car. If you can avoid doing extreme provocation to it, such as putting it into an oven or fire, or drilling into it and getting your drillbit too hot, the only way it'll hurt you is if you drop it on your foot. If you ever travel to the Richmond VA area, bring it to me and I'll empty it for you. (Credentials: The US National Park Service uses me for that when they find a civil war shell on park property.)

 

[A2coins]

Awesome info CBG hope your feeling much better I learn alot from you.. Thats an amazing find well done Bladerunner

 

[ToddsPoint]

A flying bomb. Artillery was just devastating at times during the civil war. Bad enough dodging Minnie balls, when the artillery started you probably couldn't lay close enough to the ground. Sure glad I was born in 1953 and not 1843. Gary

 

[BladeRunner2019]

Bladerunner 2019, please pardon the delay in replying. I've been ill, and did not see your message until tonight. Your find is a Confederate 12-Pounder caliber "Common-Shell"... with "Common" being the civil war artilleryman's term for "plain/ordinary" explosive shell, meaning, it contained nothing but gunpowder, no antipersonnel balls/slugs.

I'm sure it is a 12-Pounder Common-Shell, not a Case-Shot, because the exact weight your reported is correct for that type of 12-Pounder shell. A 12-Pounder Sideloader Case-Shot weighed within a few ounces of 10.0 pounds. A 12-Pounder Polygonal Cavity Type 1 shell weighed about 7.5 pounds, and the Type 2 version weighed about 9.5 pounds.


Your shell has the typical 1863-65 Confederate timefuze-adapter plug, usually made of copper, and threaded to screw into the fuzehole for a better 'seal" than the old-style wooden fuzeplug provided.

Although your shell still has its simple Blackpowder bursting-charge, please accept my professional assurance that it will not explode from merely being dropped. Also, it is safe to carry it in your car. If you can avoid doing extreme provocation to it, such as putting it into an oven or fire, or drilling into it and getting your drillbit too hot, the only way it'll hurt you is if you drop it on your foot. If you ever travel to the Richmond VA area, bring it to me and I'll empty it for you. (Credentials: The US National Park Service uses me for that when they find a civil war shell on park property.)

No worries on the delay! I hope you're feeling better.

It's good to know the exact type. I'm not sure why, but I had assumed it had case shot inside it. Oh well, at least it's still a shell.

Thank you so much for the response and education on the different shell types. Your expertise is much appreciated around here.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

BladeRunner2019 wrote:
> It's good to know the exact type. I'm not sure why, but I had assumed it had case shot inside it.

You probably made that incorrect assumption because the great majority of Confederate 12-Pounder cannonballs which have the type of fuzeplug yours has are Sideloader Case-Shot shells. In other words, your CS 12-Pounder Common-Shell is MUCH rarer than a Sideloader Case-Shot.

A suggestion:
In my relic-digging career, I dug something more than 165 civil war artillery shells. I quickly learned that where I found one shell, there was usually a few more in the very-nearby vicinity. So I advise you to go back and pound the spot where you found your Confederate cannonball.

I should mention, I had not seen Aquachigger's video (at the link posted by Scott9050) when I wrote my previous reply to your post. He is absolutely correct that an excavated civil war shell is no more dangerous to handle than a steel can of Propane Gas. Part of the proof of that statement is the undeniable fact that NO civil war relic diggers have caused an explosion when they hit the shell they were digging up with their shovel. In the past 70 years of metal-detecting for civil war relics, we've dug more than 50,000 civil war artillery shells, and not even ONE has been reported to have exploded from multiple hits with the shovel.

But, because the average person (or policeman, or even army soldier) cannot tell the difference between a comparatively harmless civil war shell and a very dangerous World War Two antitank shell, the police have to broadcast the "Don't even touch it, call us right away!" rule.

 

[Davers]

BladeRunner2019 wrote:
> It's good to know the exact type. I'm not sure why, but I had assumed it had case shot inside it.

You probably made that incorrect assumption because the great majority of Confederate 12-Pounder cannonballs which have the type of fuzeplug yours has are Sideloader Case-Shot shells. In other words, your CS 12-Pounder Common-Shell is MUCH rarer than a Sideloader Case-Shot.

A suggestion:
In my relic-digging career, I dug something more than 165 civil war artillery shells. I quickly learned that where I found one shell, there was usually a few more in the very-nearby vicinity. So I advise you to go back and pound the spot where you found your Confederate cannonball.

I should mention, I had not seen Aquachigger's video (at the link posted by Scott9050) when I wrote my previous reply to your post. He is absolutely correct that an excavated civil war shell is no more dangerous to handle than a steel can of Propane Gas. Part of the proof of that statement is the undeniable fact that NO civil war relic diggers have caused an explosion when they hit the shell they were digging up with their shovel. In the past 70 years of metal-detecting for civil war relics, we've dug more than 50,000 civil war artillery shells, and not even ONE has been reported to have exploded from multiple hits with the shovel.

But, because the average person (or policeman, or even army soldier) cannot tell the difference between a comparatively harmless civil war shell and a very dangerous World War Two antitank shell, the police have to broadcast the "Don't even touch it, call us right away!" rule.

Great Comment Good Sir.

It seems the police Explosive teams should have more common sense or their superiors should .

I guess rules are rules .

 

[Davers]

That is a Very Nice find , I'm still looking for my 1st complete shell or solid 'Large' ball of any sort.

 

[BladeRunner2019]

That is a Very Nice find , I'm still looking for my 1st complete shell or solid 'Large' ball of any sort.

Thanks! Needless to say I was shocked. I had never even found a fragment before.

 

[EvaaWilli]

Good, but dangerous found, be careful.