Cannonball question

CSinTX · 4th April 2019, 02:45 PM

If it is filled with lead grape shot leaving some void area, the resulting density might be similar to if it were solid steel. Or maybe it is a cannon ball but a replica just made to look like it is hollow.

Google images ,cannon ball plug hole, cannon ball wooden fuse, etc and you'll see other examples that look like yours. Click the images and many will lead to further discussion. Apparently one hole was a fill hole and one hole was a fuse hole that was kept plugged until use.

fernando · 5th April 2019, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CSinTX

If it is filled with lead grape shot leaving some void area, the resulting density might be similar to if it were solid steel...

Isn't grape shot bagged or canned in thin containers ... to disperse as it leaves the cannon ? a thick solid ball wouldn't burst to release the spheres.

Will M · 5th April 2019, 11:01 PM

As CSinTX suggests is spherical shrapnel, cannon balls with smaller balls inside with a charge to burst. http://thepirateking.com/historical/...rojectiles.htm

fernando · 6th April 2019, 03:29 PM

I see the point, Will.
In this case the improved shrapnel version, the so called Boxer's diaphragm shell, with an opening for the explosive load and another for the fuse, as also approached by CSinTX. This would date the discussed examples from around mid XIX century.
One way or another, considering their weight and the looks that their plugs are still sealed, could they still be loaded ?

,

Will M · 6th April 2019, 04:56 PM

Unlikely the cannon ball is still with a charge but you cannot know without disassembly. Being so old any powder should have degraded.
With guidelines of the day followed these type cannon balls should not have a charge.

adrian · 7th April 2019, 07:19 AM

These are, I think you will find, the expanding rivets which were placed there to attach wood bottoms to the projectiles. The wood bottoms have, on projectiles that still have a rivet affixed, either split or rotted away. The use of expanding rivets replaced the use of tin straps, on British ordnance, in the 1860s. Wood bottoms were required with fuzed spherical projectiles, to keep the fuze pointed forward. There were also used with solid shot in brass guns to prevent bore damage. A single rivet in large natures indicates Land Service whilst two smaller rivets meant Sea Service. Below is an extract from an unpublished work, it relates to British artillery Circa 1865:

Common wood bottoms were a disc of wood and the sides were shaped to be either conical, for Gomer chambered ordnance, hemispherical for cylindrical chambers or were left cylindrical for all other ordnance. The nature for which the bottom was intended was stamped on the underside of it. They were hollowed out to accommodate the base of the projectile and common bottoms were fixed with a single central rivet of gun metal. Wood bottoms for naval use were in only 32pr and 8 inch, or 68 pr, size and were all conical shaped. The hollow went completely through the wood bottom, leaving the underside of the shell flush with the lower surface of the bottom. This was necessary to enable the projectiles to be in actual contact with each other when double shotted, it also meant that a single central rivet could not be used to fasten the bottom and so two rivets were instead used, inclined towards the center. Refer also Commentary on page 78.
The navy’s use of wood bottoms in bronze 6 prs with the 4 ounce charge for drill purposes was prohibited because it was found that firing a loose ball with such a small charge did not harm the bore and so wood bottoms were unnecessary.

adrian · 7th April 2019, 07:27 AM

Pre 1800 British cannon balls have a broad arrow mark deeply in them.

The absence of an arrow cannot be used as a dating aid. Very, very few pre 1800 cannon balls have a broad arrow mark & those few that do are highly prized.

M ELEY · 7th April 2019, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will M

Unlikely the cannon ball is still with a charge but you cannot know without disassembly. Being so old any powder should have degraded.
With guidelines of the day followed these type cannon balls should not have a charge.

I would use 'excessive' caution if you decide to dis-assemble or cut one of these in half, as some collectors have. Old black powder has a surprisingly long half life and some people have been injured and killed attempting this practice.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/140-yr-...civil-war-fan/

fernando · 7th April 2019, 03:32 PM

Curiosity killed the cat ... in two halves

.

Kmaddock · 7th April 2019, 03:38 PM

As a bomb disposal friend of mine from Holland told me most accidents in his profession occur with small simple ordinance.

I was given similar cannon balls as a gift, i kept them for a week pondering how to remove the plug to check if they were live or not. Chatted a bit with some knowledgeable friends and came to nothing conclusive.

In the end I put them in my canoe paddled across a v deep lake and dumped them over board.

Be careful with these things much as I love my hobby these things were designed to kill and destroy.

Keep safe and if you don’t know what you have just accept the fact and be careful

I am not an expert in ordinance so take my advice as just my opinion.

Regards

Ken

4th April 2019, 02:45 PM	#1
CSinTX Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 233	If it is filled with lead grape shot leaving some void area, the resulting density might be similar to if it were solid steel. Or maybe it is a cannon ball but a replica just made to look like it is hollow. Google images ,cannon ball plug hole, cannon ball wooden fuse, etc and you'll see other examples that look like yours. Click the images and many will lead to further discussion. Apparently one hole was a fill hole and one hole was a fuse hole that was kept plugged until use. Last edited by CSinTX; 4th April 2019 at 02:59 PM.

6th April 2019, 03:29 PM	#4
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	I see the point, Will. In this case the improved shrapnel version, the so called Boxer's diaphragm shell, with an opening for the explosive load and another for the fuse, as also approached by CSinTX. This would date the discussed examples from around mid XIX century. One way or another, considering their weight and the looks that their plugs are still sealed, could they still be loaded ? , Attached Images

5th April 2019, 11:01 PM	#3
Will M Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: In the wee woods north of Napanee Ontario Posts: 395	As CSinTX suggests is spherical shrapnel, cannon balls with smaller balls inside with a charge to burst. http://thepirateking.com/historical/...rojectiles.htm

6th April 2019, 04:56 PM	#5
Will M Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: In the wee woods north of Napanee Ontario Posts: 395	Unlikely the cannon ball is still with a charge but you cannot know without disassembly. Being so old any powder should have degraded. With guidelines of the day followed these type cannon balls should not have a charge.

7th April 2019, 07:19 AM	#6
adrian Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 132	These are, I think you will find, the expanding rivets which were placed there to attach wood bottoms to the projectiles. The wood bottoms have, on projectiles that still have a rivet affixed, either split or rotted away. The use of expanding rivets replaced the use of tin straps, on British ordnance, in the 1860s. Wood bottoms were required with fuzed spherical projectiles, to keep the fuze pointed forward. There were also used with solid shot in brass guns to prevent bore damage. A single rivet in large natures indicates Land Service whilst two smaller rivets meant Sea Service. Below is an extract from an unpublished work, it relates to British artillery Circa 1865: Common wood bottoms were a disc of wood and the sides were shaped to be either conical, for Gomer chambered ordnance, hemispherical for cylindrical chambers or were left cylindrical for all other ordnance. The nature for which the bottom was intended was stamped on the underside of it. They were hollowed out to accommodate the base of the projectile and common bottoms were fixed with a single central rivet of gun metal. Wood bottoms for naval use were in only 32pr and 8 inch, or 68 pr, size and were all conical shaped. The hollow went completely through the wood bottom, leaving the underside of the shell flush with the lower surface of the bottom. This was necessary to enable the projectiles to be in actual contact with each other when double shotted, it also meant that a single central rivet could not be used to fasten the bottom and so two rivets were instead used, inclined towards the center. Refer also Commentary on page 78. The navy’s use of wood bottoms in bronze 6 prs with the 4 ounce charge for drill purposes was prohibited because it was found that firing a loose ball with such a small charge did not harm the bore and so wood bottoms were unnecessary.

7th April 2019, 07:27 AM	#7
adrian Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 132	Pre 1800 British cannon balls have a broad arrow mark deeply in them. The absence of an arrow cannot be used as a dating aid. Very, very few pre 1800 cannon balls have a broad arrow mark & those few that do are highly prized.

7th April 2019, 03:32 PM	#9
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Curiosity killed the cat ... in two halves .

7th April 2019, 03:38 PM	#10
Kmaddock Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Ireland Posts: 543	As a bomb disposal friend of mine from Holland told me most accidents in his profession occur with small simple ordinance. I was given similar cannon balls as a gift, i kept them for a week pondering how to remove the plug to check if they were live or not. Chatted a bit with some knowledgeable friends and came to nothing conclusive. In the end I put them in my canoe paddled across a v deep lake and dumped them over board. Be careful with these things much as I love my hobby these things were designed to kill and destroy. Keep safe and if you don’t know what you have just accept the fact and be careful I am not an expert in ordinance so take my advice as just my opinion. Regards Ken