Small iron ball

[BamaBill]

Does anyone recognize this small 1-inch iron ball? At first I thought it might be cannister shot, but there wasn't anything around it to suggest a CW site. It has a thin ridge running around the middle and is flat on the ends.

 

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[Montana Jim]

Possibly a mill ball... used as a tumbling medium.

The grooves may have had a purpose... possibly a net weight? 

 

[BamaBill]

That makes sense. Were early ball bearings ever made out of iron?

 

[Montana Jim]

That makes sense. Were early ball bearings ever made out of iron?

A ball bearing is pretty useless unless it's perfectly round... but I don't know.

 

[civilman1]

I'm gonna call that one a confederate cannister shot Bill.This one here is approx. 1" and does have a flat spot on one end,just my 2 Cent's.

 

[BamaBill]

Civilman, I was all ready to call it that, but the raised ridge that runs around the middle threw me. Also, it has small flat spots on both ends. Did they cast the iron balls for cannister shot?

Bill

 

[cwdigger]

Civilman, I was all ready to call it that, but the raised ridge that runs around the middle threw me. Also, it has small flat spots on both ends. Did they cast the iron balls for cannister shot?

Bill

yes they did some times