Back in the 60's I found this round solid ball that is 1 3/4" round and weighs 14.5 ounces in the dirt here in Kansas and I always wondered if it was a Civil War ball. I'm hoping that someone here would be able to tell if this is CW. It's not perfectly round but it appears that it was created from a mold that had two half's and they were off center just a bit then ground down to make it a round as possible. We may not know exactly what it is but I thought I would ask. Thanks for replying.
1 3/4" ball weight 14.5 oz. CW Ball???
- Thread starter rmccrea
- Start date
Mccrae, welcome to the Civil War Bullet Forum. 
I wish I had happier news to give you about the ball. But, going by the diameter and weight measurements you've reported, it is not any kind of artillery projectile (cannonball, Grapeshot-ball, or Canister ball).
Here's why:
Because literally millions of round (and "round-ish) metal balls exist which are NOT artillery projectiles, we cannonball collectors rely on the US (and CS) Ordnance Manual, which gives the extra-precise diameter and weight measurements of all American (and British) cannonballs, Grapeshot balls, and Canister balls that were used from 1776 through the civil war. Put simply, if a ball does not match up with the precise size AND precise weight of one of the balls listed in the Ordnance Manual, it is not a cannonball or Grapeshot ball or Canister ball made in America or Britain.
Here's a link to the Ordnance Manual's diameter-&-weight Specifications charts (which were called the Shot Tables):
Descriptions of shot for smoothbore guns
You say your ball's diameter is 1.75-inches, and it weighs 14.5 ounces. There is no match-up for it anywhere in the Shot Tables. The only ball "nearby" your ball's size-&-weight is an 18-pounder caliber Canister ball (smaller and lighter than yours), and a 24-pounder caliber Canister ball (larger than yours, but LIGHTER than yours).
You may be wondering... how can a solid (not hollow) iron ball which is larger than my ball weigh less than my ball? The answer is, your ball is not made of iron, but of Steel -- which is heavier than plain iron.
So, you may now be wondering, what was my Steel ball made for? The answer is, it's a rock-crusher ball, from the 20th-century Stonemilling Industry. Steel balls are preferred for rock-crushing, because they are a much "tougher" metal than cast-iron.
Regards,
Pete [P.C. George]
I wish I had happier news to give you about the ball. But, going by the diameter and weight measurements you've reported, it is not any kind of artillery projectile (cannonball, Grapeshot-ball, or Canister ball).
Here's why:
Because literally millions of round (and "round-ish) metal balls exist which are NOT artillery projectiles, we cannonball collectors rely on the US (and CS) Ordnance Manual, which gives the extra-precise diameter and weight measurements of all American (and British) cannonballs, Grapeshot balls, and Canister balls that were used from 1776 through the civil war. Put simply, if a ball does not match up with the precise size AND precise weight of one of the balls listed in the Ordnance Manual, it is not a cannonball or Grapeshot ball or Canister ball made in America or Britain.
Here's a link to the Ordnance Manual's diameter-&-weight Specifications charts (which were called the Shot Tables):
Descriptions of shot for smoothbore guns
You say your ball's diameter is 1.75-inches, and it weighs 14.5 ounces. There is no match-up for it anywhere in the Shot Tables. The only ball "nearby" your ball's size-&-weight is an 18-pounder caliber Canister ball (smaller and lighter than yours), and a 24-pounder caliber Canister ball (larger than yours, but LIGHTER than yours).
You may be wondering... how can a solid (not hollow) iron ball which is larger than my ball weigh less than my ball? The answer is, your ball is not made of iron, but of Steel -- which is heavier than plain iron.
So, you may now be wondering, what was my Steel ball made for? The answer is, it's a rock-crusher ball, from the 20th-century Stonemilling Industry. Steel balls are preferred for rock-crushing, because they are a much "tougher" metal than cast-iron.
Regards,
Pete [P.C. George]
Last edited: