Musket ball? More photos added!

[treasure_lady]

I found this at the park today in front of the gazebo area. It looks like the pictures I've seen here of musket balls.. and it's made of lead..but it looks larger than the musket balls I've seen here. Anybody know what it is? It is very heavy. Thanks!

 

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[stoney56]

Re: Musket ball?

Based on the size of the quarter which is about 1", it rules out most musket balls I'm familair with. 1st thought was Zouave but looks to be too big for that. Maybe small blackpowder cannon shot or grapeshot maybe although most grapshot was cast of iron.

 

[stoney56]

Treasure is that a sprue mark on one side and an open slit on the other? Hard to tell from this monitor.
check out: http://civilwarartillery.com and click on left side field projectiles.

 

[treasure_lady]

You know stoney.. I can't tell. The loop looking thingie.. seems to be part of the ball. It isn't attracted to a magnet.. if that makes any difference. My husband says it looks like it was poured into a mold and cut off..with a 1/32 inch rising at one end.

 

[stoney56]

That rising is what is called a sprue if we're talking about the 1st enlarged pic. The sprue is what's left after the lead is poured into the mold then the sprue cutter is hit with a hammer or similar object to cut off excess lead from the sprue cutter opening. HH

 

[treasure_lady]

Thanks for the link Stoney!

 

[Chris in BC]

Sorry to burst your bubble, but I am pretty sure that is a fishing weight, you will find the crushed hasp thats all bent up to be a different material like steel and it will run into the center of the ball. I have dozens of these, new ones are covered with a rubberized coating, older ones were not even stamped with weight or size, around here they are known as 1/3rd of a Bouncing Betty rig. Chris

 

[stoney56]

Thanks, Chris. I don't mind being proven wrong. I've just never seen sinkers like that here in the mid-south. Sorry Treasure Lady, thought we had something special there but at least it goes to show that continued learning gives us a bettr perspective.HH

 

[treasure_lady]

Thanks to both of you for taking time to reply. Strange how things like that wind up in a park miles away from a coast where they would be used!

 

[stoney56]

Well, Treasure Lad it looks like you got a history lesson and I learned that a new monitor is next on my list of MD accessories. I got on the laptop at work and can see the pics. a lot better. Sorry.

 

[Colorado2]

Yup, Bouncing Betty Weight! I've got a mold if you want some new ones. ~CO2