Lead Ball...

[CRUSADER]

I found a huge lead ball far bigger than a usual musket ball (pictured to the right for scale).

I tried to weigh it but it was over 50grams so my scales won't cope with it.

Any ideas?

 

[RPG]

Wouldn't want to get hit by that thing.

 

[Drache]

Could it be a piece of "shrapnel" from a canister shot or something similar from a cannon?

 

[72cheyenne]

Is there any place that looks like it may have had and attachment. If so, I would say a fishing net weight.

 

[CRUSADER]

Could it be a piece of "shrapnel" from a canister shot or something similar from a cannon?

That was our thought when we found it. We are not near a battle site, as far as I'm aware, so its puzzelling.

Is there any place that looks like it may have had and attachment. If so, I would say a fishing net weight.

Definately no misssing pieces, its smooth other than the casting mould line & an odd plough mark.

 

[jrwill56]

they made grapeshot wit lead also in the civil war may be one. they would load several on a canvis bag and load them in the cannon.

 

[DCMatt]

Found a reference to 16th century matchlock muskets:

Spanish muskets weighed 8 kg or more, had bore diameters of 18-22 mm. and fired lead bullets of 56-57 g.

Maybe it really is a musket ball...

DCMatt

 

[savant365]

Maybe it is a type of carronade shot. I found a little info on the bottom part of this page.

http://www.colchestertreasurehunting.co.uk/B/bullets.htm

HH Charlie

 

[BioProfessor]

For what it's worth, we found one yesterday at a site that dates from the 17th century. More than 50 grams and much larger than a Brown Bess ball.

Daryl

 

[fortbball9]

In my Civil War Projectiles II,book by McKee & Mason.On page 67 it talks about case shot & lead balls ranging in size from 1.30",1.13",1.115",1.00" and.855" all the way down to .285".Weight in grains from
3443,2160,2075,1497 and 932 all the way down to 34 grains.That are some of the sizes that have been
field recover.So their are a lot of different sizes used in different ways.Cannons,Rifles and pistols.
I know that I have found several case shot in the 1 inch dia.Hope this helps.Congrats on your find,I love finding and lead pieces.


fortbball9

 

[steif]

Yes, some of the early matchlock and wheellock guns were over 1 inch in diameter, I've seen a matchlock from the 15th century that was 1 1/4" bore size. it could be a very old round ball for a matchlock... but there would be no way to tell how old.

 

[CRUSADER]

Thanks for all the inputs.

I did wonder myself if it could be a large bore musket type thing. But I have no knowledge of firearms, & I find it odd its the only one I have every had (we get muskets ball on every trip out)