Found a cannonball: j-peg attached

[SPWalker]

I have found a cannonball and can not ID the type or date it was made.

I dug a cannonball here in South Texas last month. It looks more like a pineapple than cannonball.

I am sure it is an early form of a fragment bomb as it has serration?s all along the outside. It is about 5 inches wide, 8 lbs., has a brass cap with a copper center. I was talking to a collector who is in the business and he also has not seen anything like it. The 2? wide cap has been screwed on as it has scaring from a tool on its out side edge.

We believe it is from the French (Maxamillion) 1850-1860?s.

I also believe piece is still armed. I have it re burred on my own property, as I do not want to take any chances. I also need to know how to disarm a cannonball. I understand that there are a few who disarm as a hobby.

I am sure the local law enforcement or the government would do it their way. But I am not up for all that.

Here is the question Is there a sight or a cannonball expert out there that I could get in touch with to get an ID on it.

Have fun digging.

SW

 

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[CWnut]

cannonball

here's a site to CW artillery. I didn't see anything like you have.

http://www.civilwarartillery.com/

 

[W4UVV]

I have found a cannonball and can not ID the type or date it was made.

Contact your closest Army military installation. Ask for the closest Equipment Ordnance Disposal office/team. If no luck call the MP office and ask. If successful, nicely ask the EOD person if he/she can help you. You want projectile drilled to be inert. They may or may not help you. Most of these types are currently in Iraq.

If you contact a city bomb squad they will want to blow it up.

 

[whiskers]

Drill it is the answer, and it will also get you killed. The Civil War guys can do it, but there is a special way to do it and live. It involves remote drilling and water, and a situation where all people are far out of the way in case it goes off. And they do go off on occasion.

Dial up "Civil War relics" on Google and check out the guys who offer artillery shells for sale. They're the ones to talk to. But be safe and don't let anyone tell you that you can do it yourself. You'll only get hurt.

-Jim Lyons

 

[Digger]

Killer find! and I mean that literally