Cannonball find and looking for info

ReelHabit

Newbie
Jun 17, 2018
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Primary Interest:
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Hello, new guy here. Think I posted in wrong forum earlier.


Came across three of these. They weigh about 70 lbs, 9'' wide 28" dia. They also appear to have one 3/4" tapped hole which must have been for a fuse. Trying to find out age, type of cannon or value? Thank you.
 

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If you don't get a response to your question here, which you probably will knowing the vast knowledge of these guy's here, you can send the pics to Richard Angelico. He and I hunted together for many years and he knows his stuff when it comes to cannonball's. His email is "[email protected]". Tell him that Darry G. the old Possumcop told ya to email the pics to him, I'm certain he'll be able to help ya... "D"
 

Awesome, thank you very much sir.
 

I haven't seen Cannonballguy around in awhile... I am sure he could access a value for you.

Perhaps he will catch this post.
 

Anytime, let us know what he says... "D"

Without seeing them in person, it is hard to tell. Off the bat, they look like Naval Watercap fused Dahlgren shells, based on the one in the basket. The one in the basket has had the fuse removed. I have fuses for that shell and it would be an easy check to see if it fits and if it is a naval shell. They may have never been fused or fired, which is common. No way to tell for sure unless I examine them. As to their value, if you want to sell them bring them by my house and we’ll discuss it. I buy and sell Civil War artillery all the time.
 

ReelHabit is correct. The specific answers to your ID, age, and dollar-value questions are:
They are civil war era US Navy Watercap-fuzed shells for the 9"-caliber Dahlgren cannon. What you see in the fuzehole is the brass "bushing" which the (missing) Watercap fuze screwed into. Because the valuable date-marked brass Watercap fuze is missing, these cannonballs are worth about $150, retail. Fortunately, diggers occasionally find undamaged USN Watercap fuzes from exploded shells, which you can buy for about $75. Then, carefully clean the threading in the brass bushing, and screw the fuze into it... which will make the ball worth about $300 retail, due to it having an "unscrewable" fuze.

The photos below show a sawed-in-half civil war US Navy Watercap-fuzed shell, and a civil-war-dated USN Watercap fuze.
 

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ReelHabit is correct. The specific answers to your ID, age, and dollar-value questions are:
They are civil war era US Navy Watercap-fuzed shells for the 9"-caliber Dahlgren cannon. What you see in the fuzehole is the brass "bushing" which the (missing) Watercap fuze screwed into. Because the valuable date-marked brass Watercap fuze is missing, these cannonballs are worth about $150, retail. Fortunately, diggers occasionally find undamaged USN Watercap fuzes from exploded shells, which you can buy for about $75. Then, carefully clean the threading in the brass bushing, and screw the fuze into it... which will make the ball worth about $300 retail, due to it having an "unscrewable" fuze.

The photos below show a sawed-in-half civil war US Navy Watercap-fuzed shell, and a civil-war-dated USN Watercap fuze.

Great info As usual thanks TCBG.
 

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