Identifying possible cannonball

[mmullins]

Looking for more information from people more knowledgeable than myself.

I was left what my grandparents believed was a civil war cannonball. My great-grandparents tilled it up from their tobacco field in eastern KY about 70-75 years ago, its sat on one fireplace or another since, before coming to me.

Specs:
Copper-clad iron ball
Just over 5.5in diameter
23.5lbs

From the research I've done, if it is a cannonball, by weight it seems to be 24lb solid shot and I see no fill holes or plugs where powder could have been put in.

 

[UCVRelics]

From the info you have provided it appears to indeed be a 24lb solid shot. The copper colored covering is not original and is more than likely something put on there to stop or cover the rust.

 

[bayonet]

From the info you have provided it appears to indeed be a 24lb solid shot. The copper colored covering is not original and is more than likely something put on there to stop or cover the rust.

yeah I'm at a loss to why that covering is over the cannonball. Since it's peeling off just go ahead and scrap the rest of it off to return it to it's original condition. But hey that's just me!

 

[mmullins]

I read that they had coated some cannonball in potmetal or copper, though not a common practice.
If not original I may just remove it. I'd hate to strip the copper if it were original

 

[JOHN42768]

I read that they had coated some cannonball in potmetal or copper, though not a common practice.
If not original I may just remove it. I'd hate to strip the copper if it were original

Welcome, enjoy

 

[Tom Hughes]

Nice!

 

[UCVRelics]

I read that they had coated some cannonball in potmetal or copper, though not a common practice.
If not original I may just remove it. I'd hate to strip the copper if it were original

I would do electrolysis on it to remove any rust from the inside out and coat with Gemplers.

 

[Sheltowee]

Looking for more information from people more knowledgeable than myself.

I was left what my grandparents believed was a civil war cannonball. My great-grandparents tilled it up from their tobacco field in eastern KY about 70-75 years ago, its sat on one fireplace or another since, before coming to me.

Specs:
Copper-clad iron ball
Just over 5.5in diameter
23.5lbs

From the research I've done, if it is a cannonball, by weight it seems to be 24lb solid shot and I see no fill holes or plugs where powder could have been put in.

View attachment 424989

View attachment 424990

That's cool- and sparks my curiosity. Where in eastern Kentucky?

If fired in battle, I'm trying to link to a particular engagement?

I'm no expert- but I wonder if artillery of that size was used in eastern Kentucky? Hoping some more knowledgeable members can clarify. Great find!

 

[PoliticsNerd]

An interesting topic. I will follow the development.

 

[Seduzal]

Nice cannon ball and Welcome to CWT from the Smoky Mountain side of North Carolina. Just jump right in and enjoy.

 

[Mrs. V]

Can't resist.."Goodness, gracious, great balls of fire!"…

 

[Llewellyn]

How's about a copper coating being able to effectively engage with the grooves and lands of a rifled barrel ?

 

[bayonet]

How's about a copper coating being able to effectively engage with the grooves and lands of a rifled barrel ?

That's a round ball most likely fired from a smoothbore cannon. Don't think that Cooper coating would have anything to do with lands & grooves either way. Of course the real hardcore heavy weapons guys can jump in on that possibility. I was SF light weapons not heavy. Although I do have a nice collection or Rev & CW cannonballs.

 

[mofederal]

Hello and welcome to the CivilWarTalk from Southeast Missouri. That is a very nice looking cannonball. I think electrolysis would do it a lot of good.

 

[rob63]

I don't think you can rule out the possibility of the copper coating being an indication that this is something used in an industrial setting rather than a cannon ball.

 

[Lubliner]

Welcome from the Railroads and Steam Locomotives Forum. I also would like to know where your relic was found! Nice one.
Lubliner.

 

[Ed Zeppelin]

Welcome from the Railroads and Steam Locomotives Forum. I also would like to know where your relic was found! Nice one.
Lubliner.

It was dug up from a tobacco field in eastern Kentucky.


Sent from my Commodore 64 running Windoze 95

 

[General Butler]

I get confused over cannonballs as I am told there are grinding balls out there that look to similar so I stay clear...though having a real one would be cool

 

[bayonet]

I get confused over cannonballs as I am told there are grinding balls out there that look to similar so I stay clear...though having a real one would be cool

There is a post somewhere here on this website and info on line that you can tell the difference from a mill ball to a cannonball. Maybe some of you heavy weapons guys can post the link here to help the guy. Don't feel bad, I had a 6 pounder displayed for years in my CW collection only to see the article later to realize it was a Mill Ball. Lucky I was only out maybe $30-35 I paid for it. I was thinking of burying in the sand down at the beach and some metal detector guy finding it. "COOL I FOUND A CANNONBALL"! But I skipped out on a laugh and just tossed it in the dumpster.

 

[John Winn]

For @bayonet - I've attached a PDF about how to identify a cannon ball. If a round ball isn't really close in weight and diameter to those in published charts then it isn't a cannon ball. Also, here's a link to a site with tables of diameters and weights of projectiles (select one of the "projectiles" tabs on the red menu on the left of the home screen): http://www.civilwarartillery.com/