Old cannon balls or huge ball bearings?

[Kevlardini]

Got these at a yard sale for $1 a piece. The guy said they are 3 pound cannon balls. Of course, I needed to check it out here to be sure, because I know some of you are experts on cannonballs.


If you need more pictures just let me know.

 

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[Mud Hut]

Given the flat spot, I'm going to say no, but will wait to see what th CBGuy says.. Hopefully he will be able to cime in.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

I get so many requests to identify metal balls as being cannonballs or not, I'm going to ask you to please pardon me for simply giving all the info you need in a short reply.

The vast majority of solid (not hollow) metal balls are not artillery (cannon, grapeshot, or canisser-ammo) balls, they are civilian-usage balls made for industrial, or decorative, or sports-equipment purposes. For example, multi-millions of iron/steel balls have been manufactured as rock-crusher balls for the Mining-&-Stonemilling Industry.

I co-wrote an educational article on how to determine with certainty whether or not a metal ball is a cannonball... and it includes photos, and includes detailed instructions (along with a photo) for correctly using a Pi Tape (a.k.a. "Diameter Tape") to measure the ball's diameter very precisely. To view the article for free on the internet, go here:
SolidShotEssentialsMod

Then, as the article says, after you've gotten the ball's very-precise diameter and weight measurements, check for a match-up in the "Shot Tables" charts in the 1861 US (and CSA) Ordnance Manual.
www.civilwarartillery.com/shottables.htm

Please believe me, I take no pleasure at all in having to tell you that the balls in your photos have the distinctive look of modernday steel balls made for industrial use, such as machinery-counterweight balls.

 

[Kevlardini]

I get so many requests to identify metal balls as being cannonballs or not, I'm going to ask you to please pardon me for simply giving all the info you need in a short reply.

The vast majority of solid (not hollow) metal balls are not artillery (cannon, grapeshot, or canisser-ammo) balls, they are civilian-usage balls made for industrial, or decorative, or sports-equipment purposes. For example, multi-millions of iron/steel balls have been manufactured as rock-crusher balls for the Mining-&-Stonemilling Industry.

I co-wrote an educational article on how to determine with certainty whether or not a metal ball is a cannonball... and it includes photos, and includes detailed instructions (along with a photo) for correctly using a Pi Tape (a.k.a. "Diameter Tape") to measure the ball's diameter very precisely. To view the article for free on the internet, go here:
SolidShotEssentialsMod

Then, as the article says, after you've gotten the ball's very-precise diameter and weight measurements, check for a match-up in the "Shot Tables" charts in the 1861 US (and CSA) Ordnance Manual.
www.civilwarartillery.com/shottables.htm

Please believe me, I take no pleasure at all in having to tell you that the balls in your photos have the distinctive look of modernday steel balls made for industrial use, such as machinery-counterweight balls.

Thank you for responding! I mean for a buck a piece, they will be good welding material. But I'll definitely take a look at the two links!