Bar shot cannonball questions

[Frisk]

Hi guys! I would very much appreciate if someone could help me with some details about this bar shot cannonball(s). Potential date and origin? What are the holes in the balls for?

Thanks!

 

[civil_war22]

Length, weight, and diameter of ball would help with ID.

 

[Frisk]

Here we go: L.88cm, D.14cm

Length, weight, and diameter of ball would help with ID.

 

[Digger RJ]

Nice!!! Congrats!!!

 

[Frisk]

Thanks

Nice!!! Congrats!!!

 

[gunsil]

Does not look like bar shot to me.

 

[smokeythecat]

Interesting find. I have never seen a bar shot with holes in either of the balls. Also, the bar between them seems rather thin. Hard to tell.

 

[civil_war22]

I’ve been looking through my books today, and going off your measurements, and the fact yours has holes in each one I’m thinking it’s something completely different. Are you sure it’s not a set of antique weights for exercising? The holes might have held some sort of sand or fluid for weight, and could be adjusted by draining some out. Check out early dumbbells, and you’ll see the resemblance. Most of the early bar shot(angel shot) were much different looking with weights, lengths no where near yours.

 

[TooManyHobbies]

Here we go: L.88cm, D.14cm

Since you measured in metric, country of origin might help too.

 

[Frisk]

Germany...

Since you measured in metric, country of origin might help too.

 

[Frisk]

Not too far off those on display at Naval museum in Madrid

 

[civil_war22]

What is the measurement in between the iron balls? That would be the measurement that would be key to it. It may help pinpoint a certain type, year, or something totally different.

 

[Frisk]

Hi, that would be 60cm

What is the measurement in between the iron balls? That would be the measurement that would be key to it. It may help pinpoint a certain type, year, or something totally different.

 

[civil_war22]

the closest one I found to yours is this one. It has a hole as well. Still working on this one. The dimensions just don’t add up. I guess it’s because I’m going off the US Navy and British Navy

 

[Doubter in MD]

Converting dimensions from centimeters to inches for us backwards Americans. It makes it easier to visualize. (For me anyway)


Ball diameter - 5 1/2"

Over All Length - 34 21/32"

Rod length - 23 5/8"

 

[Frisk]

Thanks guys, your help is much appreciated

 

[Frisk]

Do you guys know in general what these types of holes are for in cannonballs? I see them in "single" ball cannonballs as well sometimes...

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Responding to your request.

Pre-1900s artillery projectiles are my specialty area of relic-study.

Sorry to have to say, but for several reasons I am 100% certain the object is not a Bar-Shot The main reasons are, its form is quite different from the known varieties of actual Bar-Shot. (Do a websearch for images of Bar-Shot in museums, not at antiques/Militaria SELLERS (especially not Ebay, which is full of fakes.)

1- Its total length are much longer than any actual Bar-Shot I've ever seen.
2- The bar on actual Bar-Shot is square-bodied, but this object's bar is cylindrical.
3- The "extra" hole in each of the two balls has no purpose on an actual Bar-Shot. The holes have some sort of purpose in the object's actual function (which isn't artillery).​

 

[ARC]

Responding to your request.

Pre-1900s artillery projectiles are my specialty area of relic-study.

Sorry to have to say, but for several reasons I am 100% certain the object is not a Bar-Shot The main reasons are, its form is quite different from the known varieties of actual Bar-Shot. (Do a websearch for images of Bar-Shot in museums, not at antiques/Militaria SELLERS (especially not Ebay, which is full of fakes.)

1- Its total length are much longer than any actual Bar-Shot I've ever seen.
2- The bar on actual Bar-Shot is square-bodied, but this object's bar is cylindrical.
3- The "extra" hole in each of the two balls has no purpose on an actual Bar-Shot. The holes have some sort of purpose in the object's actual function (which isn't artillery).​

CBG... No offense intended... and I too find the OP's item "suspect"... BUT...

1. Total length means nothing for they were produced in varying lengths... even "expanding" bar shot.

2. The bar being round versus square also means absolutely nothing... for prolly half of them produced had round bar.

3. Although the holes are not "standard issue" so to speak... this also does not disqualify it from being bar shot.

IMO of course.