Cannon Balls or not?? Photos Added

[Southern_Boy]

Hi:

A friend sent me a picture or two pictures of the same item. I assume that they are cannon balls but do not know how to transfer the pictures so I can post them. I have sent my friend an email telling her to contact the local police and let them know what I suspect. I think they are colonial but not sure and would like to know.

If you are interested in seeing them, please email me and let me know. You may email me directly at [email protected]

 

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[romeo-1]

Re: Cannon Balls or not??

Why contact the police

 

[BuckleBoy]

Re: Cannon Balls or not??

Why contact the police

Now THAT's a good question! If they even *suspect* you have something explosive there, they'll send the bomb squad out to destroy it. E-mail those photos to someone you trust here, and somebody will post them for you...

-Buckleboy

 

[birdman]

Re: Cannon Balls or not??

They will destroy them.Do not contact the police.

 

[jeff of pa]

Re: Cannon Balls or not??

OK Here is what she Found

 

[BuckleBoy]

Look like cannon gourds to me.

 

[romeo-1]

Not like any cannon ball or projectile I have ever seen...for what that's worth...

 

[Southern_Boy]

Well, just in case the item is a cannon ball it could still be active and explode. Wouldnt you want to have the police involved? Bomb squad and all that.

 

[BuckleBoy]

No--you'd send it to a professional and have it unloaded if it was live, hence keeping its collector's value. Many "cannonballs" are actually solid metal--and perfectly safe. But this one doesn't look like a projectile to me.

-Buckleboy

 

[jeff of pa]

Cannon Ball Or Not Live or Not,
I'd keep it intact.

Just not in a Place where it could Drop or Get Hot

But That's just me,

Naturally I'm not making Suggestions,
But IF I had more then one,
I'd drill into one.
But I'v been called Crazy.

 

[Monty]

Jeff, you're crazy! A guy blew himself and his grandson up just last year drilling into a cannon ball. I'm fairly sure it is not a cannon ball, but caution is the word. It looks to me like it may have been an early form of hand grenade with a fuse at the top? Would like to know what the size and weight is. Monty

 

[incajoe]

You might want to move those gas cans before you start drilling. Just a suggestion

 

[ivan salis]

size of the item ? -- might be an very old form of hand granade---so handle it with great care---- a water soak to dampen any powder that night be might be advisible before attempting to pierce it in any manner -- if its a old style hand granade there should be a fuse hole for the wick --if you find one add lots of water to kill the powder charge --- bomb squads live by the motto if in doubt remove it to a safe spot and blow it up --so be advised --needless to say use good sense and caution when handling --- Ivan

 

[jeff of pa]

Jeff, you're crazy! A guy blew himself and his grandson up just last year drilling into a cannon ball. I'm fairly sure it is not a cannon ball, but caution is the word. It looks to me like it may have been an early form of hand grenade with a fuse at the top? Would like to know what the size and weight is. Monty

I thought Grenade also but without an idea of size don't know.

I also thought some type of bottles.

yes. I have been known to take chances.
I wouldn't drill straight through though.
I'd drill down from the top.
stopping often to make sure it dossn't heat up.
maybe even in a tub of water.
with the whole thing underwater.
then stick a wire in & pull it out
to see if I collects any black powder.

I'd never suggest anyone try what I would though.

 

[BuckleBoy]

It can be the heat, but it can also be a tiny spark that makes it go...and the GASSES trapped inside a shell (from the degradation of the gunpowder by water over time) can in many cases be even MORE risky than the powder itself. These are under pressure AND extremely combustible gasses--nasty ones. This is why folks who drill shells talk about shells "burping" or "hissing" when they bore in...

But I don't want to scare off the originator of this post...all of this talk of explosives...and I'm not even sure that's what we have here. Southern Boy, if you put 'em in a humid, cool place until we figure out what they are, you'll be perfectly o.k. And we need a sense of size...measurements please.


-Buckleboy

 

[Iron Patch]

It can be the heat, but it can also be a tiny spark that makes it go...and the GASSES trapped inside a shell (from the degradation of the gunpowder by water over time) can in many cases be even MORE risky than the powder itself. These are under pressure AND extremely combustible gasses--nasty ones. This is why folks who drill shells talk about shells "burping" or "hissing" when they bore in...

But I don't want to scare off the originator of this post...all of this talk of explosives...and I'm not even sure that's what we have here. Southern Boy, if you put 'em in a humid, cool place until we figure out what they are, you'll be perfectly o.k. And we need a sense of size...measurements please.


-Buckleboy

Anyone even mentioning drilling ordinance in my opinion is being reckless. Some people are foolish enough to try without the correct precautions and a few do pay the price.

I love my relics but if that's full of powder it either goes down a deeper hole or in this case looks like it will be destroyed. (if the police were called) No second chance from having something blown up in your face.

 

[Gen. Breckinridge]

Just my 2 cents worth but it looks like a weight for an old balance scale with the hook or loop rusted off. Size of the object would determine it, height and diameter. Most scale weights were about 2 - 2.5 inches in diameter and 3.5 to 4" high (these are estimates based on seeing several of these scales).

 

[birdman]

The cannonball I found had an oak plug in it and I used a cork screw to slowly drill a hole in the plug.I made it through and then took the ball to work and used the pressure washer to get out most of the powder. After that I filled the ball with wax and covered it with tounge oil(dark clear coat) .It turned out pretty good.