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Cannon Ball? Cannon Ball?
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Old 08-13-2010, 04:58 PM
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Cannon Ball?
My dad found this arrowhead hunting in Central Illinois, I think it might be a cannon ball. Does anybody know more about what it might be?
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Old 08-13-2010, 07:03 PM
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Josh, that would be my first guess if I had found it.

Just a heads though, if it is actually a Cannon Ball be sure to keep it away from heat and don't bang on it for any reason at all. I have seen stories where these things still contained powder and have blown up and killed and injured people. So in other words, don't set it on your fireplace mantle or anywhere near an open flame.
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Old 08-13-2010, 08:27 PM
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i agree steve , have it checked out by a civil war authenticator , be safe!!!

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Old 08-13-2010, 08:29 PM
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Very cool find..I never thought of having a charge still active in it but it certainly makes sense...thanks for posting..That would seem a once in a lifetime find.
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Old 08-13-2010, 08:46 PM
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I never even knew cannon balls had a powder charge until I joined this forum. That indentation on the second picture would make me even more nervous of that fact.
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Old 08-13-2010, 08:55 PM
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Anyone know how the charge was energized? Was it simply impact with some sort of Nitro primer?
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Old 08-13-2010, 09:08 PM
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I may be wrong but I think they stuck more than gunpowder in them. Iron scraps would make sense and do more damage... Then again... Toss some flint scrap in there. That would make sparks for ignition when it hit the iron insides AND shrapnel. Just an unedumacted guess.
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Old 08-13-2010, 09:20 PM
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It was a timed fuze that was lit from the explosion when the cannon was fired. Ideally the idea was for them to explode in the air right above the people.

There is a lot of solid shot around but that hole in this one looks awful like a fuze hole.

I have read that in theory the solid shot was more effective as you'd bounce it along the ground and it would knock arms and legs off as it went through, but the gunners preferred the exploding stuff because they thought it was more intimidating.
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Old 08-13-2010, 09:49 PM
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So the gunners were "pyros" at heart . Nothing like a little flair in your discipline.
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Old 08-14-2010, 08:05 AM
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That is an amazing find Josh. Your Dad had a knack for finding the unusual stuff. As others have said, be careful with this thing, Ray.
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