Cannon ball or not?

[Upnorth42]

Hello All:

Is this a cannon ball or something else? It was found in a barn in Ireland. I'm not sure if cannon balls have seams. Could it be from a ball mill or something like that? Its about 5.5" in diameter and weighs about 12 pounds.

Its not mine or found by me I'm posting for a friend who is curious about what it might be.

Thanks

 

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[Bruce R]

Only 12 lbs ? I have one that measures a little over 5 in and weighs just over 18 lbs.

 

[Upnorth42]

It was weighed on a spring scale so the weight might not be very accurate.

 

[mirage83]

With a raised seam like that it wouldn't be a cannonball. That could easily jam up in the barrel of a cannon and some real unpleasantness could ensue. I would say a mill ball myself.

 

[A2coins]

Not a cannon ball that's a 2 piece and yes the seem also would not be there

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

What Mirage83 said is almost always correct. However, some very crudely made iron cannonballs from the Colonial Era have been found with a raised casting-mold seam about the size of the one on this ball. So, we must reply on the super-precise diameter and weight data for cannonballs given in the US 1861 Ordnance Manual, here:
www.civilwarartillery.com/shottables.htm

The only way to prove beyond doubt that this ball is a cannonball is to super-precisely measure its diameter and weight, to see if there's an exact match-up for it in list of historical cannonball sizes in the Shot Tables. Inexact measurements (such as "about" 12 pounds) are not good enough.

To get a super-accurate measurement of this ball's diameter, you'll need to use either a Caliper or a Diameter-Tape. Go to the following webpage and read the educational article on Cannonballs I co-wrote, for info and detailed instructions, with helpful photos:
SolidShotEssentialsMod

 

[Rookster]

Only 12 lbs ? I have one that measures a little over 5 in and weighs just over 18 lbs.

Probably Chinese metal.

 

[Upnorth42]

What Mirage83 said is almost always correct. However, some very crudely made iron cannonballs from the Colonial Era have been found with a raised casting-mold seam about the size of the one on this ball. So, we must reply on the super-precise diameter and weight data for cannonballs given in the US 1861 Ordnance Manual, here:
www.civilwarartillery.com/shottables.htm

The only way to prove beyond doubt that this ball is a cannonball is to super-precisely measure its diameter and weight, to see if there's an exact match-up for it in list of historical cannonball sizes in the Shot Tables. Inexact measurements (such as "about" 12 pounds) are not good enough.

To get a super-accurate measurement of this ball's diameter, you'll need to use either a Caliper or a Diameter-Tape. Go to the following webpage and read the educational article on Cannonballs I co-wrote, for info and detailed instructions, with helpful photos:
SolidShotEssentialsMod

Unfortunately I can't be more accurate on the weight. I do have a photo of it with a fiberglass tape measure wrapped around it. The cannonball is in Ireland so I do not have access to it. Based on the discrepancy with the weight I'm thinking its not a cannon ball. I was also suspicious about the seam too. It certainly would not be good to have a seam like that going down a barrel. From having a quick look at the data link you provided there are issues with the weight of the object relative to its diameter.

 

[Georgivs]

Pretty sure my "confederate 12 pounder" was actually a 12 pound shot put from track and field. The olympics/track and field had a resurgence of popularity in the early 1900's and the site that I found it at dated from this time period.

 

[Bruce R]

You mean somebody threw that thing an then couldn’t find it ? What an arm !