Recent Find Unknown Civil War Cannonball

[JakeBird3839]

Hello, First post here, I just picked up this cannonball the other day, and was wondering if it was authentic or not. I got it at an antique mall nearby. The seller claims it's a confederate 18 pdr found on union lines near Gettysburg.

It weighs 16.2 pounds
Its diameter is 5.3 inches
The size diameter is .65 inches

Any help or info would be appreciated! If you need better pictures, please ask.

 

[Bushwhacker Detectorist]

Definitely is authentic. The pitting is exactly what you would find on a cleaned up spherical shell. Secondly it does ruin the value but for some reason. Artillery collectors use a rust converter called phosphoric acid to neutralize the rust but it makes the shell black and fake looking. None the less, that would actually be a 24 pound shell, not a 18 pound. The largest diameter of a 18 pounder is 5.18". The diameters of a 24 pounder ranges from 5.60 to 5.70, and if we take into account rust eating bacteria and rust flaking off, it makes 5.3 exactly what a 24 pounder would be if it was in the ground for a 163 years. So If you got that shell for the price of a 18 pounder. That's a freakin steal. How much did you get it for if you don't mind me asking?

 

[JOHN42768]

Hello, First post here, I just picked up this cannonball the other day, and was wondering if it was authentic or not. I got it at an antique mall nearby. The seller claims it's a confederate 18 pdr found on union lines near Gettysburg.

It weighs 16.2 pounds
Its diameter is 5.3 inches
The size diameter is .65 inches

Any help or info would be appreciated! If you need better pictures, please ask.
View attachment 586322View attachment 586323

Welcome, enjoy