cannonballs....

[M ELEY]

Ed brought up a good point indeed. Many so-called 'cannon balls' are actually mill balls used in tumblers to crush rocks into gravel. Then again, there are other suspects, like counter-weights, shot-puts, flag staff ends, iron rail ends, etc.

[Will M]

Grinder balls typically have flat spots and their weight does not match common cannon ball sizes. Pictured are some British 12, 24, 32 lb balls. Broad arrow ball 24 lb fired in 1760 at a French fort in Canada.

[Rick]

Here's my entrant in the cannon ball division.
Roughly 5" in diameter, hollow, weighs about 8 pounds but feels heavier than I would have thought. The only way to measure its weight was for me to get on our bathroom scale with and without it in my hands.
So much for accuracy in weight, but it was the best I could do under the circumstances.
Opinions?

Picture is larger than the actual ball.

[cel7]

Thank you all for your comments!

Unfortunately no cannonballs then, although they were advertised as such by the auction. I have since sent them an email to point out their mistake.

[M ELEY]

Will M, I remember that great 'broad arrow' marked piece! I'm envious!
Rick, that is a great shell cannonball! It would be heavier if it were full of powder and small shot! I'm no expert on these and as these types have been around as early as the mid-17th up to the mid-19th and used throughout Europe and here in the U.S, someone more knowledgeable than me would have to wager an educated guess.

cel7, sorry for the bad news-

[Jim McDougall]

I haven't entered on this as I know little on ordnance and shot, but pretty fascinating discussion. I would have thought as Cel had suggested originally these might be weights for line etc.

Good notes on the nature of mill balls, and it seems there are likely a number of uses for these kinds of iron balls.

Amazing images of that cannon ball from French fort in Canada with the British broad arrow! I like the display with the vintage book in context!

Years ago I had an old cannon ball from War of 1812 I got in New Orleans. It was a smaller one but recall the puzzled reaction by security at the airport.
It sat on my desk for many years, until one day it literally disintegrated, rust corrosion from within.

[adrian]

Here's my entrant in the cannon ball division.
Roughly 5" in diameter, hollow, weighs about 8 pounds......Opinions?

It is most likely a Common Shell, however without knowing what country you acquired it in and without an accurate diameter dimension one can say little more.

[Rick]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Good notes on the nature of mill balls, and it seems there are likely a number of uses for these kinds of iron balls.

I seem to remember seeing 20 years ago a couple of these mill balls for auction on eBay purported to be wootz cakes.