🔎 UNIDENTIFIED Cannon Ball, not sure of age

[Wild Colonial Boy]

Hello
A Friend has this ball, he purchased years ago from a finder In CT who said it may be Revolutionary war, as The Brits burned down this Town
it is solid and a good weight, no makings, seems to be just under 3 3/4" diameter, and circumference 12 7/8 +/-
that's all I have,

maybe have a look at photos and dimensions

I am curious what it might be and if it is an actual cannonball if its Revolutionary war or 1812 or Civil war
let me know if you need more decent photos
Thanks in advance

 

[ARC]

Well we just recently lost our foremost expert member Cannonballguy...
so it will be up to another member to ID your find.
I will step aside on this for now.

 

[Wild Colonial Boy]

Well we just recently lost our foremost expert member Cannonballguy...
so it will be up to another member to ID your find.
I will step aside on this for now.

Thank You, That's sad news, he was a wealth of Knowledge

 

[ncsuwolf]

Thank You, That's sad news, he was a wealth of Knowledge

He was, and could likely answer your question without a follow up. Not sure the rest of us can. I have seen TCBG post some official measurement/weight documents from the military (at the time). I’m not going to dig back through to find them. (Sorry). Only thing I’ll leave you with from Pete…..it can always weigh less (air bubbles in casting), but it can never weigh more. Best of luck.

 

[Gene Mean]

From The CannonballGuy

CannonBallGuy .. Can you tell me anything about this?

A friend of mine recovered this near Petersburg, Va and sent me this photo. I don't have any other specifics about it, but will try to get some. I think he is looking for general information. Thanks for your help, Pete!

www.treasurenet.com

 

[Gene Mean]

Also from CbG

Cannon bore, shot, shell, canister, and grape shot diameters for rifled and smoothbore cannon.

Rifle Canister Cannon Bore Diameter Cannon – RifledPattern # of PiecesDiameter & Shot Material 1.7-inch Whitworth? 24 .65-inch lead shot 2.25-inch CS Mountain Rifle 27 .70-inch lead shot 2.6-inch 6-pdr.

www.historicalpublicationsllc.com

 

[Gene Mean]

CannonballGuy responded to a couple of my posts personally over the years. I can never explain how much that meant to me.

 

[Wild Colonial Boy]

Also from CbG

Cannon bore, shot, shell, canister, and grape shot diameters for rifled and smoothbore cannon.

Rifle Canister Cannon Bore Diameter Cannon – RifledPattern # of PiecesDiameter & Shot Material 1.7-inch Whitworth? 24 .65-inch lead shot 2.25-inch CS Mountain Rifle 27 .70-inch lead shot 2.6-inch 6-pdr.

www.historicalpublicationsllc.com

Thank you so much Gene, i will diligently follow his instructions and links you kindly sent

 

[Wild Colonial Boy]

Just confirming the chart for Rev War, I am looking for is the following​

"Descriptions of Solid Shot for Smoothbore Guns"​

 

[AU Seeker]

Just confirming the chart for Rev War, I am looking for is the following​

"Descriptions of Solid Shot for Smoothbore Guns"​

I do believe that would probably be the right chart, if yours is an American civil war cannon ball, if it's earlier, Revolutionary war or 1812 it could most likely be British or French and you need would another chart since America wasn't making their own cannons yet...BUT before you start looking at any chart you need a very precise measurement and weight, as both will be needed and they both have to match up in the chart.

Here's a link for British shot.

British Cannonball Sizes

 

[Retired Sarge]

Wow, I've been checking in sporadically over the last year or so, and for some reason was thinking of TCBG yesterday, wondering how he was doing. Didn't know he passed away.

We had some really good conversations both on the open board and in PMs.

 

[Wild Colonial Boy]

I do believe that would probably be the right chart, if yours is an American civil war cannon ball, if it's earlier, Revolutionary war or 1812 it could most likely be British or French and you need would another chart since America wasn't making their own cannons yet...BUT before you start looking at any chart you need a very precise measurement and weight, as both will be needed and they both have to match up in the chart.

Here's a link for British shot.

British Cannonball Sizes

Thank You

 

[Wild Colonial Boy]

I found this good resolved post by him also

✅ SOLVED - Cannonball! ID help and preservation recommendations please

Good evening all. A friend from town found this (apparent) cannonball at a private construction site in the Ironbound section of Newark, NJ. We are please looking for help with: a) identification of the gun that would have fired the cannonball, and b) preservation of the cannonball so it...

www.treasurenet.com

 

[Deftone]

Well. Now I'm gonna be bummed out for a while.

 

[grasshopper]

Well we just recently lost our foremost expert member Cannonballguy...
so it will be up to another member to ID your find.
I will step aside on this for now.

😢

 

[Wild Colonial Boy]

I just measured it as instructed and had it weighed at post office
Diameter is 3 15/16". weight 8lb 12.4 oz
it seems to line up with British 9 pounder , the chart lists at 4" diameter and 9lbs

I am not that concerned with minor difference with diameter and weight
citing from a great link I got from one of Canon ball guys posting

Solid Shot Essentials: A Guide to the Authentic and Non-Authentic​

David Poche with Peter George

"Caveat: The diameter of any solid shot may be altered by the effects of pitting or scaling of its surface, and exposure to acidic ground water. Both effects may make it lighter.

It should be pointed out here that with only one exception, no military solid shot was ever fabricated at a diameter equal to a ruler fraction (1/4, ½, ¾ or an even 1). Ruler-fractioned objects are all civilian rather than military and a quick glance back at the Shot Table diameters will confirm this. The single exception is the 32 Pdr. caliber cannonball, whose specified diameter was 6.25 inches. If an iron ball is encountered that has a diameter equal to a ruler fraction, like 3 and ½ inches (3.50) then it is not authentic.

Also when comparing with the Ordnance Manual’s specified weights for cast iron shot, remember that cast iron molding inherently creates bubbles inside the casting. Internal casting bubbles will make the solid shot lighter.

Authentic cast iron solid shot may be lighter than the Ordnance Manual Shot Table weight but it can never be heavier. If a particular shot has the correct diameter but is heavier than the weight listed in the Shot Tables, then it is probably steel.

The weight of a military solid shot is never specified to be an even pound. If an iron ball is encountered with an even pound weight, such as 3.0 or 4.0 pounds then it is not authentic and points to civilian. The exceptions to this rule are 8 inch and larger caliber solid shot, but that is because the Ordnance Department was not concerned with specifying ounces at such great weights (65 pounds and up).

SolidShotEssentialsMod

British Cannonball Sizes

 

[flyadive]

CannonballGuy responded to a couple of my posts personally over the years. I can never explain how much that meant to me.

Absolutely! He did the same for me. He will be missed Greatly !
As far as the iron in the photos goes , you need to take precise measurements with Mics or calipers and an actual circumference tape for that diameter. (Do the math)Not a tape measure.
Take it to the Post office and have them weigh it. Then compare your weight & measurements to the charts others have posted from theCannonballguy!

 

[Wild Colonial Boy]

Absolutely! He did the same for me. He will be missed Greatly !
As far as the iron in the photos goes , you need to take precise measurements with Mics or calipers and an actual circumference tape for that diameter. (Do the math)Not a tape measure.
Take it to the Post office and have them weigh it. Then compare your weight & measurements to the charts others have posted from theCannonballguy!

Thanks really helped me out,
regarding the ball I posted. I did calipers and post office read my last post if you have a chance

 

[Gare]

Well we just recently lost our foremost expert member Cannonballguy...
so it will be up to another member to ID your find.
I will step aside on this for now.

Ar4c very nice tribute and posting about the cannonballguy. VERY professional in your posting. Thank you for honoring him so well!!!