Expert: Ralph Salier - 3/11/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hi, we moved in our house about 7 years ago.  We dug up some rocks in our back yard to make a fire pit.  We found a cannon ball well we think it is.  But we are not sure.  Our house is over 100 years old. We live in Indiana if that helps. Here are some pictures i took.
Please help if you can. Thanks, Kim

ANSWER: Hi Kim,  

It does appear to be a cannon ball.  Given the weight, it may be a hollow one that could still contain black powder and thus it could be quite dangerous.  DO NOT PUT IT INTO A FIRE, Throw it, hit it with a hammer etc....

Does it have a plug, either brass, bronze or steel? it would be round, perhaps 1 inch in diameter and conforming to the shape of the ball?  If so, this is the fuse!  Does it have any numbers, letters or symbols struck into the metal? this could be on t he fuse as well.  

The ball is from the civil war time period and was probably cast in one of the steel mills in northern Indiana.  I would donate it to the local historical museum, just to get the thing out of the house!

You CAN NOT sell it,  you CAN NOT ship it, It is illegal to ship munitions.  Since it may still have black powder in it, it is considered hazardous.  Do not send the kids to school with it as show and tell.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: here is another picture

Answer
Hi Kim,

Yes, this is a hollow ball which probably still contains black powder.  This is a steel fused ball which is corroded in place which could be a good thing but is still VERY DANGEROUS.  

Do your self and your family a big favor, and give it to the local historical museum.  If you don't want to give it away, then do not keep it in the house.  Don't let the kids play with it, don't put it into a fire etc...

If you want more info on the ball, please let me know the diameter and I may be able to tell you what size cannon it was shot from.  Also, what part of Indiana is this in?