Very interesting find! Roman lead sling 'bullets'

kronckew · 13th October 2016, 03:11 PM

yes, thumbshot. the acorn and double ogival shapes were the most common tho. found the original ref for the picture, see attached. smaller drilled shot whistled when throw, were almost impossible to see coming and were used to terrorise the enemy. they could be thrown like grapeshot, 3 or 4 at a time.

i always wondered why canucks were 'special'.

found another ref that indicated tests with lead shot revealed they could be thrown 300-400 metres and had the kinetic energy of a .44 magnum. roman surgeons even had special instruments for removing lead shot from victims.

the greeks were fond of casting litle messages on their shot, similar to those we chalked onto bombs for delivery to our opponents

'catch this' and 'this is for dessert'. 'fly accurately', and even 'Attack Octavian's a****hole'. presumeably by a marcus antonius supporter. (MA lost tho)

M ELEY · 14th October 2016, 10:46 AM

Love that thumbshot! It makes sense if the mold used to make the lead shot was using the so called lost wax casting. What easier way to make a wax mold for the later lead projectile than to stick one's thumb in the wax!

The article I attached that started the thread shows a rounder shot. I'm assuming this was lead poured into water? I remember an old thread where we talked about 'shot towers' that poured lead from its spire down into a vat of water, the natural shape of the falling metallic liquid being round shot.

Andreas · 14th October 2016, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M ELEY

The article I attached that started the thread shows a rounder shot. I'm assuming this was lead poured into water? I remember an old thread where we talked about 'shot towers' that poured lead from its spire down into a vat of water, the natural shape of the falling metallic liquid being round shot.

They were cast in two-part moulds. The pics below show two Ancient Greek ones, one with an intaglio maker's mark (TIMON,).

Timo Nieminen · 14th October 2016, 11:39 AM

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 · 14th October 2016, 06:55 PM

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 · 14th October 2016, 08:14 PM

Hi Wayne,
Hairy Ginger here

, lead pipe and roofing purloined long ago and sold to an enterprising East End entrepreneur

Regards,
Norman.

kronckew · 15th October 2016, 07:16 AM

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

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

13th October 2016, 03:11 PM	#1
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,238	yes, thumbshot. the acorn and double ogival shapes were the most common tho. found the original ref for the picture, see attached. smaller drilled shot whistled when throw, were almost impossible to see coming and were used to terrorise the enemy. they could be thrown like grapeshot, 3 or 4 at a time. i always wondered why canucks were 'special'. found another ref that indicated tests with lead shot revealed they could be thrown 300-400 metres and had the kinetic energy of a .44 magnum. roman surgeons even had special instruments for removing lead shot from victims. the greeks were fond of casting litle messages on their shot, similar to those we chalked onto bombs for delivery to our opponents 'catch this' and 'this is for dessert'. 'fly accurately', and even 'Attack Octavian's a***hole'. presumeably by a marcus antonius supporter. (MA lost tho) Attached Images Last edited by kronckew; 13th October 2016 at 03:44 PM.*

14th October 2016, 08:14 PM	#6
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,632	Hi Wayne, Hairy Ginger here , lead pipe and roofing purloined long ago and sold to an enterprising East End entrepreneur Regards, Norman. Attached Images

15th October 2016, 07:16 AM	#7
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,238	so that's where our church roof went.... i didn't want to stereotype, but.... Attached Images

14th October 2016, 10:46 AM	#2
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,184	Love that thumbshot! It makes sense if the mold used to make the lead shot was using the so called lost wax casting. What easier way to make a wax mold for the later lead projectile than to stick one's thumb in the wax! The article I attached that started the thread shows a rounder shot. I'm assuming this was lead poured into water? I remember an old thread where we talked about 'shot towers' that poured lead from its spire down into a vat of water, the natural shape of the falling metallic liquid being round shot.

14th October 2016, 11:39 AM	#4
Timo Nieminen Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 422	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.

14th October 2016, 06:55 PM	#5
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,238	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.)