Very interesting find! Roman lead sling 'bullets'

[Timo Nieminen]

Two-part molds for multiple shot could also have them arranged in a chain. I don't know whether tree or chain was the most common. I've seen replicas of molds for casting single shot, but I haven't seen any original old single shot molds.

I think thumbshot were just for emergency use, if a proper mold wasn't available. Mainly because the classic lead shot, like a an egg with pointy ends, is a very good shape for slinging, and a thumb-tip isn't as good and will have worse aerodynamics.

[kronckew]

probably whistled a bit tho. i'd try but my lead casting in the kitchen days are long gone...

as you note, it's a field expedient for when you are away from the supply depot up on the wall staring at the hairy gingers and a bit short on ammo but have some local's roof lead or pipes to scrounge. (arbeia is near the eastern end of hadrian's wall.)

[Norman McCormick]

Hi Wayne,
Hairy Ginger here , lead pipe and roofing purloined long ago and sold to an enterprising East End entrepreneur
Regards,
Norman.

[kronckew]

so that's where our church roof went....

i didn't want to stereotype, but....

[Norman McCormick]

I'll take those stereotypes any day.

[kronckew]

there is a male or two in the back you can have, i'll take a few of the ones in front with the longer hair and the chest bumps.

reminds me of an old joke:

a young bull and his son are at the top of a hill and spot a herd of cows in the valley below. the young one says 'dad, lets run down and make love to a couple of those cows. dad says 'let's walk down and make love to all of them'.

is that thus an ethnographic antique joke?

[Norman McCormick]

is that thus an ethnographic antique joke?[/QUOTE]



Most definitely

[fernando]

Originally Posted by kronckew

... is that thus an ethnographic antique joke?

Well ... so far !