Help me I.D this please!

[coincorey]

Metal detecting at old military sites. Stumbled upon this ornate little piece. Possibly piece to gun? And were musket balls ever made out of iron cause I found a ball but it is all rusty. Would appreciate the feedback!

 

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[Kiros32]

Looks like the barrel from an old toy cap gun.

 

[relic nut]

What type of metal is it? Looks like pot metal. Maybe it's half of the barrel of a toy gun. I don't think musket balls were ever made of iron, but I could be wrong. Looks like they would be hard on the barrel. Wish I were more help.

HH RN

 

[devldog]

A small iron ball could have been from Artillery. A smaller iron ball was called "Grape" shot in that these were about the size of a grape. These were fired encased in a Thin iron canister can and would explode spreading the contents of iron balls having a shot gun affect. The larger iron balls were called Canister balls and were used and fired the same way, these were just larger and would have a devastating affect when used against Infantry.

 

[coincorey]

A small iron ball could have been from Artillery. A smaller iron ball was called "Grape" shot in that these were about the size of a grape. These were fired encased in a Thin iron canister can and would explode spreading the contents of iron balls having a shot gun affect. The larger iron balls were called Canister balls and were used and fired the same way, these were just larger and would have a devastating affect when used against Infantry.

thanks!

 

[jewelerguy]

cap gun barrel for sure

 

[ScubaDetector]

Absolutely a cap gun barrel. You can see the hole where the rivet held the two sides together.

No musket balls were iron. You probably have a ball bearing.

 

[coincorey]

cap gun barrel for sure

is it an older cap gun?

 

[ScubaDetector]

Probably 50's or early 60's A lot had fancy scroll work on them and so it is hard to tell what kind it was.

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[gunsil]

A small iron ball could have been from Artillery. A smaller iron ball was called "Grape" shot in that these were about the size of a grape. These were fired encased in a Thin iron canister can and would explode spreading the contents of iron balls having a shot gun affect. The larger iron balls were called Canister balls and were used and fired the same way, these were just larger and would have a devastating affect when used against Infantry.

You have it a bit backwards. Grape is larger, cannister balls are smaller. Grape can be 2" diameter while cannister is around 3/4", I have dug complete cannister rounds and know for sure. The one pictured is way too small for any artillery use and is likely a ball bearing, possibly slingshot ammo. Grape shot was largely a naval load, rarely used in any land battles. No grape shot is as small as a grape

 

[BosnMate]

You have it a bit backwards. Grape is larger, cannister balls are smaller. Grape can be 2" diameter while cannister is around 3/4", I have dug complete cannister rounds and know for sure. The one pictured is way too small for any artillery use and is likely a ball bearing, possibly slingshot ammo. Grape shot was largely a naval load, rarely used in any land battles. No grape shot is as small as a grape

Agree.