Expert: Ralph Salier - 10/26/2010

Question
My mother has a cannon ball on her property. It has been there all her life and she is 82 yrs old. She thinks her great great grand father brought this home. She wants me to have it so it stays in the family. I measured it and it is 8 inches across with a 24 inch diameter. Let me know what you think should I have it checked by the authorities or just donate to the local museum. Thank you

Answer
Hi Joe,

Believe it or not, some of these are still live!  In a recent accident, a man and one of his children was seriously injured when a cannon ball he was "sawing" open exploded.  Both barely survived their injuries.  His was a civil war ball.  Yours at 8 inches sounds like a ball from perhaps the Mexican American war or perhaps a practice ball, but not know where you live, It is hard for me to determine its potential origin.  

Clean it gently with water, then look for markings.  The fuse will be either brass or perhaps steel and will be about 1" in diameter.  There may be markings or stamped marks in the ball that will help identify the origin and make and potentially the type.  DO NOT Drop the ball, use heat on it or even tap it with a hammer.  Scrubbing it with hot water and soap should not be a problem.  

Once cleaned up. please send me pics and other info you have and I will provide further assistance and make recommendations as to its "disposal:,  This would amount to a museum or perhaps an ordinance decommissioning facility from the army. They may return it if it could be defused and then you can safely own the ball.