Very interesting find! Roman lead sling 'bullets'

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....

Norman McCormick · 16th October 2016, 07:27 PM

I'll take those stereotypes any day.

14th October 2016, 08:14 PM	#5
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,618	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	#6
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,224	so that's where our church roof went.... i didn't want to stereotype, but.... Attached Images

14th October 2016, 10:46 AM	#1
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,158	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	#3
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	#4
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,224	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.)

16th October 2016, 07:27 PM	#7
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,618	I'll take those stereotypes any day.