Strange Case Shot Ball

[Tom Hughes]

I dug this lead case shot ball among some other case shot balls (.69 calibres) from an exploded shell in Vicksburg area.
As you can see, it has some deep cut striations running through it.
Can anyone tell me what caused this?

Here's a side view of the case shot ball.

 

[Sheltowee]

Very strange

 

[Sheltowee]

Do you reckon the damage could be post war…..from agricultural/ construction equipment?

 

[UCVRelics]

View attachment 429771
I dug this lead case shot ball among some other case shot balls (.69 calibres) from an exploded shell in Vicksburg area.
As you can see, it has some deep cut striations running through it.
Can anyone tell me what caused this?

View attachment 429772
Here's a side view of the case shot ball.

On CS case shot they were loaded from the side and the South would put anything that would fit in the hole in there. So it was just something laying around that was shoved in the hole.

 

[oddballaffliction]

Looks like the threads where the fuse threads into the shell. When it exploded the fuse came out and the ball hit where the threads were. Just a guess.

 

[Tom Hughes]

Do you reckon the damage could be post war…..from agricultural/ construction equipment?

I guess that is possible. But this area was never in agriculture. And I don't know what kind of construction equipment could've made that kind of impression. It looks impacted and certainly it was not "freshly" done.

 

[Western Reserve Volunteer]

There was a thread a while back about wild boars commonly chewing on lead balls, producing about 90% of the "soldier bites musket ball for pain relief" myth. The striations look like an imprint of a big fat molar to me: I suspect one third of a postwar BLT is responsible. Case shot not being appetizing, it would have been spat out and thus reburied.

Do you have a set of calipers? If the striations have a uniform distance between threads or a standard number of threads per inch that'd suggest a machined surface vs a pigs tooth was the culprit.

 

[Sheltowee]

There was a thread a while back about wild boars commonly chewing on lead balls, producing about 90% of the "soldier bites musket ball for pain relief" myth. The striations look like an imprint of a big fat molar to me: I suspect one third of a postwar BLT is responsible. Case shot not being appetizing, it would have been spat out and thus reburied.

Do you have a set of calipers? If the striations have a uniform distance between threads or a standard number of threads per inch that'd suggest a machined surface vs a pigs tooth was the culprit.

Remarkable theory!

 

[Story]

Looks like the threads where the fuse threads into the shell. When it exploded the fuse came out and the ball hit where the threads were. Just a guess.

Or, given the concave nature of the striations in the ball the fuse made them when it was first inserted into the shell.

 

[JimW]

Or, given the concave nature of the striations in the ball the fuse made them when it was first inserted into the shell.

That seems like a good working hypothesis.

 

[Tom Hughes]

Or, given the concave nature of the striations in the ball the fuse made them when it was first inserted into the shell.

Actually, that is it exactly...Since I posted this, I had an artillery expert chime in and told me the same thing. The striations are from the fuse insertion......Thanks everyone for the comments.

 

[Sheltowee]

Actually, that is it exactly...Since I posted this, I had an artillery expert chime in and told me the same thing. The striations are from the fuse insertion......Thanks everyone for the comments.

Well done!

 

[Western Reserve Volunteer]

I'm looking at a fuse plug right now (prepping for a artillery presentation tomorrow where I get to show off stuff from the battery's warehouse, including display rounds) and I agree with that assessment. The thread is just about a perfect match!

 

[DixieRifles]

As you can see, it has some deep cut striations running through it.

It almost looks like threads.
Was there a bolt thru the center of a grape shot??

 

[UCVRelics]

It almost looks like threads.
Was there a bolt thru the center of a grape shot??

NO, and it would be a canister round.

 

[UCVRelics]

I'm looking at a fuse plug right now (prepping for a artillery presentation tomorrow where I get to show off stuff from the battery's warehouse, including display rounds) and I agree with that assessment. The thread is just about a perfect match!

Now the question is CS or US and what fuse did that. I'm leaning a CS 12lb with a copper time fuse or it was done by the side plug that were also CS.

 

[Tom Hughes]

Now the question is CS or US and what fuse did that. I'm leaning a CS 12lb with a copper time fuse or it was done by the side plug that were also CS.

Yes, 100 percent Confederate. Without giving away the location, it was at the site of a CS Arsenal that suffered an explosion during the war.

 

[UCVRelics]

it was at the site of a CS Arsenal that suffered an explosion during the war.

This gives it away for us folks that know the CS history of the area.

 

[Tom Hughes]

This gives it away for us folks that know the CS history of the area.

Dang!!!! I talk too much some times....

 

[redbob]

It almost looks like threads.
Was there a bolt thru the center of a grape shot??

Grape shot consisted of two iron plates with iron balls between them and held together with a long bolt. they also had two iron rings around the stand to hold the balls in. Canister consisted of a tin can attached to a wooden sabot with two iron plates (one top and one bottom) with iron or lead balls inside the can with sawdust packed in around them. 12# field gun canister on left and 12# Grapeshot on right.