3.9" cannonball fuzed id

[fiero377ci]

This ball came from moorefield wv, there were a few battles in the area. I can't seem to find any reference to this size, it measures 3.9" and weighs 7.8lbs. It is obviously live if it's really a cannonball. When rolled in hands u can feel a light rocking of contents. Any info highly appreciated.

 

[kevikens]

At first a 7.8 lb. cannon ball does not sound right. But if it were from a 12 pound gun (a very commonly used gun from the Civil War) and it is hollow for a powder charge the weight would be about right. The exterior iron looks very similar to a few cannon projectiles that I have but the fuse does not look quite right. I think you will have to wait until some of our artillery experts can weigh in. By the way, the place in West Virginia you are talking about, any military activity from earlier than the Civil War? I think there was some military activity in that region during the French and Indian War, 1750's. See what you can dig up, figuratively, on Fort Buttermilk and Fort Pleasant.

 

[UCVRelics]

Its not heavy enough to be a hammer mill ball and is not a dug relics. The recess hole appears to have been capped off. I'm going to say at one time it was part of a stacked cannon ball display from a park etc.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Welcome to CivilWarTalk.

I'm sure someone will be able to make a positive I.D.

 

[John Winn]

Diameter and weight don't match any tables I've seen. Also, the round indentation doesn't look like a fuse or fuse hole. There's no threads and it appears to not go through. I don't know what it is but I don't think it's a cannon ball.

 

[fiero377ci]

If im not mistaken, there is a 3.908 8lb right on the list.

 

[John Winn]

If im not mistaken, there is a 3.908 8lb right on the list.View attachment 101752

That chart is out of the 1862 Ordnance Manual but I think it's just a chart that says IF you had a ball of a given weight it would have a diameter of X. That manual doesn't mention an actual piece using shot or shell of that weight and diameter and I've never seen a reference to a an 8 pounder smooth-bore field gun although there was a 9 pounder used in the Revolution I believe. There were 6 and 12 pounders before and during the war but no 8 pounder smoothbores that I've ever seen referenced.

There's also the issue with the indentation: I still don't think that's a fuse hole.

So I'm still gonna say it's not a cannon ball and certainly isn't one from the Civil War.

 

[bankerpapaw]

I had what I thought was a cannon ball. Turned out it was a huge ball bearing used in an ore crushing machine. However, it does make a great door stop.

 

[fiero377ci]

The plug appears be separate and pressed in, I'm going to drill it and make a puller, douse w water just in case.
I have to wonder because it is hollow and something is in there. The mold seam looks perfect for a cannon and no out of roundness. Hopefully this doesn't end in a newspaper article from bad info. I feel a little better about it anyway, had everyone terrified about it.

 

[John Winn]

The plug appears be separate and pressed in, I'm going to drill it and make a puller, douse w water just in case.
I have to wonder because it is hollow and something is in there. The mold seam looks perfect for a cannon and no out of roundness. Hopefully this doesn't end in a newspaper article from bad info. I feel a little better about it anyway, had everyone terrified about it.

Do be careful just in case and let us know what you find in there.