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

SPWalker · Jan 9, 2004

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

outdoorsup · May 11, 2004

I'll give it a shot.

Hello, I will atempt to ID it, but I will need a couple pictures. One picture with a ruler next to it's side and one with the ruler on it's top. Also need markings. Drop me a line here or email.

cedarratt · Nov 21, 2004

Do be careful some of those were filled with gunpowder. I know I had a freind that found one luckley it didnt explode lol

cachenut · Jan 18, 2005

Sounds too big to be a c.w. hand grenade. They were thrown over high walls and had a impact fuse with cardboard or wood fins on the other end. They also would roll down a slanted roof and then off the edge and detonate when they hit bottom. Sort of a 6 inch oval shape, not round.

You could try relicman here in Virginia. He is very knowledgeable. www.relicman.com

www.re.icman.com

There are many websites with cannonball pictures and designs. google it.

They are not very dangerous unless they dry out and you hit them with fire or hard knocks. Many people preserve them and make them inert for you. Some detector shops do this for about $20.