✅ SOLVED CW Canister Shot? Two of them.

[OutdoorAdv]

Any information would be very helpful. I found one of these 20 years ago, and the second one the other weekend. Finally would like to nail down just what they are! The area both these were found in have a lot of civil war action, however, I cant say for certainty there was any artillery fired nearby... but I have no doubt artillery traveled down the roads next to the fields these were found in. I also found a US Box Plate and other civil war relics within feet of one of these.



Both appear to be iron and I can see a casting seam on both. Both have also gone through electrolysis.

Ball one: 0.71lbs or 11.45oz AND ~1.73" in diameter


Ball two: 0.94lbs or 15.05oz AND ~1.94" in diameter


I have read SolidShotEssentialsMod and tried to find shot in The Ordnance Manual for the Use of the Officers of the United States Army - United States. Army. Ordnance Dept, Theodore Thaddeus Sobieski Laidley - Google Books that matches the specs.

They look like canister shot to me, and they are close to the specs in the manual... but I don't know enough to say for certain. Any help?

Thanks everyone!

 

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[relic nut]

Found one a year ago just like those. Showed it to an old time metal detector'st who told me it was canister. Cool find

 

[parsonwalker]

I agree with relic nut, with your additional info of CW items found nearby. Similar balls were used in ball mills, but I think you've got grape shot there.

 

[Tnmountains]

Yep canister shot. I have a pile from Bates battery. They came like this should be more around plus a top and bottom plate. I never kept the plates when I first started hunting. The shot do have seams.

 

[OutdoorAdv]

Thanks guys. Three people agree, so I'll stick them back in the case and continue to tell people they are canister\grape shot! ha The only thing I was hung up on, is where I found these I know there were soldiers, but I don't think there was fighting or artillery fired. Funny thing about all my Civil War relics is that I've found them at old house\farm sites (rather than encampments or battle area) where there didn't appear to be fighting. I have dug 2 plates and various other stuff... but only a hand full of 3 ringers... so my ratio is off a bit for a typical battle area or encampment hunt.

The second ball matched very close to specs for the 1lb solid shot in the ordinance book. The first ball, I could not match as close to any of the canister or grapeshot charts. I found more relics closer to the second ball though. I wonder if maybe not fired, if this type of thing was maybe dropped by a soldier or possibly a souvenir picked up by someone from a battle area.

 

[trdking]

Remember, This stuff did not just vaporize after the war. It became surplus and was moved to farms and storage for other uses.
3 ringers and other ammo was used for hunting and home protection, and surplus traveled West with the Pioneers. You can find this stuff anywhere