Possible canister base

[LafayetteCountyDigger]

I have been hunting a site where some artillery was fired in small numbers. I dug a lot of bullets but I also dug this canister base looking thing. What do y'all think? It measures exactly 3 inches across and has lead in the middle

 

[UCVRelics]

What is the diameter and could you post a photo of how thick it is. Most canister base that were fired have the indent of the iron balls in them. @redbob has some great examples.

 

[LafayetteCountyDigger]

What is the diameter and could you post a photo of how thick it is. Most canister base that were fired have the indent of the iron balls in them. @redbob has some great examples.

The diameter is exactly 3 inches. It's about 1 cm thick

 

[redbob]

If it is a canister base, it may be for a Hotchkiss (which is doubtful); otherwise it looks like a Iron sabot for a shell or bolt. A Hotchkiss would be lead and have the name on the bottom.

 

[redbob]

This is a view of a 4.62" iron canister bottom plates (top and bottom of a bottom plate) showing the Iron ball indentations.

 

[drezac]

It does not look like a canister base. Most canister was built around a wood sabot. It could be a part of a round for a rifled gun.

 

[LafayetteCountyDigger]

Thanks all for the reply's, now that I look it does look like a shell sabot. Near by to this I dig dug a Hotchkiss sabot