My First February Hunt Ever!!! Massive Mortar Fragment!

[romeo-1]

Hunting in February in this part of Canada is usually unheard of. This year is really no exception. There is a couple feet of snow on the ground where it isn't drifting and several more feet where it is drifting. Even if there was open space the ground is frozen solid. We usually get a thaw in January or February but that hasn't happened so I decided to try along the shoreline. I walked a stretch of shoreline that saw heavy military activity all through the late 1600's up until the mid to late 1700's. This particular spot saw two major battles in the early 1700s so I went in with the hopes of a cannonball. Well, it's not a cannonball but it is the largest mortar fragment that I have found. I've found more fragments in this area in the fields but this one was below the high tide line.

For February, I am very happy to post this find! Quarter is for size reference.

 

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[KyFreeBird]

Re: My First February Hunt Ever!!!

 

[romeo-1]

Re: My First February Hunt Ever!!!

I just noticed something...there is part of the fuse hole on this fragment...that's a first for me.

 

[vanoldschool]

Re: My First February Hunt Ever!!!

keep at it, more to come!!

 

[romeo-1]

Re: My First February Hunt Ever!!!

keep at it, more to come!!

I was at the mercy of the tide today. Tides are super fast so I only have about an hour each day for this particular spot...

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Re: My First February Hunt Ever!!!

Can you imagine the size this cannonball would be if it was complete!
When do you figure it might date from . . . 18th century?
Nice recovery romeo!

Dave

 

[romeo-1]

Re: My First February Hunt Ever!!!

Can you imagine the size this cannonball would be if it was actually complete!
When do you figure it might date from . . . 18th century?
Nice recovery romeo!

Dave

Hey Dave, definitely 18th century. You're right, it would have been a huge projectile. The cannon that this would have been fired from is still at the fort. It's got about a three foot bore!

 

[TennPenny]

Huge!

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Re: My First February Hunt Ever!!!

Can you imagine the size this cannonball would be if it was actually complete!
When do you figure it might date from . . . 18th century?
Nice recovery romeo!

Dave

Hey Dave, definitely 18th century. You're right, it would have been a huge projectile. The cannon that this would have been fired from is still at the fort. It's got about a three foot bore!

Man, that's so cool to know the cannon that potentially fired this beast is still in the vicinity!
A three foot bore? . . . that would make that ball what, a foot and a half in diameter?!
That's incredible!

Dave

 

[GioTheGreek]

You are a trooper Romeo...

With the weather we've been having around here lately, sweet Feb. find :

Keep 'em coming buddy!

 

[spitfire55]

 

[civilman1]

Very nice frag and HUGE.......guesstimate on the weight?

 

[The Patriot]

Great that you got out even for a short period....maybe next time that will be a whole one or even a solid shot....it's coming I feel it...

 

[romeo-1]

Great that you got out even for a short period....maybe next time that will be a whole one or even a solid shot....it's coming I feel it...

Today is family day but next weekend I'll be spending a few hours on the shoreline. I've just got to figure out how to tune the detector for the salty. sandy, rocky conditions.

I'm sure that there is a cannonball or two there...just a matter of getting the coil over it!

 

[steelheadwill]

Super & Historic Find!!
A 3 foot Bore, WOW
Glad you are able to hunt even through the weather, as the song goes:
'Love will find a Way'
I've worn out 2 coil covers hunting the terrain you describe!
best digs to You

 

[smittyw]

Excellent. Glad I wasn't in the way when that thing came calling.

 

[romeo-1]

Very nice frag and HUGE.......guesstimate on the weight?

Guesstimate not necessary...weighs exactly 27 pounds! Probably close to a 300 pound ball when whole.

 

[ModernMiner]

That frag is a monster!
Congrats,
MM

 

[The Patriot]

I found some frags near water too and they cracked over time....preserve it well my friend

 

[romeo-1]

Pepperj; Where there's a will there's a way...but I'm more interested in the 6 to 12 pound solid shot variety.