A trade

[Joe G from Md]

Was putting in drop ceiling for a gentleman when I saw he had a bunch of solid shot. We were talking and found out he likes Civil War as much as I do. I proposed a trade to him a few relics from Antietam for a solid shot from Perryville [he has relatives down there and when he visits surrounding farms plow these up all the time and he purchases them] this one is supposedly Confederate. Good deal or not?

 

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[relic nut]

Looks good to me. I'd trade stuff I have extra of for something I don't anytime. It's great to meet like minded people and you may make a friend.

 

[fyrffytr1]

I hope I am wrong but I don't think that is a cannon ball. Have you ever seen one with a groove around it? If there is a grooved ball I hope someone will show it and prove me wrong. Accurate weight and diameter need to be known so, if it is one, it can be correctly identified.

 

[Joe G from Md]

I hope I am wrong but I don't think that is a cannon ball. Have you ever seen one with a groove around it? If there is a grooved ball I hope someone will show it and prove me wrong. Accurate weight and diameter need to be known so, if it is one, it can be correctly identified.

He said that was a seam and how you tell it's Confederate.

 

[Dharmacy]

I hope I am wrong but I don't think that is a cannon ball. Have you ever seen one with a groove around it? If there is a grooved ball I hope someone will show it and prove me wrong. Accurate weight and diameter need to be known so, if it is one, it can be correctly identified.

I agree, I would tend to think this was an old mill ball, but I have been wrong before. accurate weight and measurements will narrow down the possibilities.

D.

 

[Dharmacy]

He said that was a seam and how you tell it's Confederate.

He is right that some Confederate ordinance will show casting seams and flaws, but that looks more like a wear groove to me, making me lean more to it being a mill ball.

D.

 

[Joe G from Md]

I hope I am wrong but I don't think that is a cannon ball. Have you ever seen one with a groove around it? If there is a grooved ball I hope someone will show it and prove me wrong. Accurate weight and diameter need to be known so, if it is one, it can be correctly identified.

Solid shot was banded with metal band, maybe it was banded while still hot from being cast? It was banded on to Sabot.

 

[fyrffytr1]

"TheCannonballGuy" is the expert. Hopefully he will chime in soon and clear this up. In the meantime here is a table for solid shot giving precise weight and diameter. Also, In one article I read it stated there were no wide seamed balls. And, any seam remaining would be slightly raised as it was formed where the two halves of the mold joined together. Again, I hope I am wrong.

http://www.civilwarartillery.com/shottables.htm

 

[smokeythecat]

I have cannonballs with mold seams. The seams stand out very slightly from the ball. I would measure it also, it could be a mill ball.

 

[Davers]

Hope it the Real deal.

If not , I know people.

 

[Possum]

We've dug a lot of fired cannon balls from around Fort St. Phillips and Fort Jackson, however that doesn't make me an expert by no means, so I couldn't tell you what a "Mill Ball" is, nor have I heard of one before. I'm not doubting any of y'all, because each of you have way more experience than I do and to be honest, this is a learning experience for me, so my question is, do these "Mill Balls" have holes in them that resembles a fuse port (hole) like a cannon ball? We've dug a few with slight indentations of a band around them, that's the only reason I'm asking... Oh, and Davers, I especially want to stay on your good side!!! Lol. "D"