Expert: Ralph Salier - 11/21/2011

Question
QUESTION: I was wondering if i found a cannon ball....are cannon balls completly round or is there 2 slight flat spots opposite of each other..im sure it weights over 12lbs. Dont have scales..but its 12 3/4 inches around the middle...Thanks i hope you can verify this

ANSWER: Hi Dan,

It looks like one.  Please take more pics of the ball, from various angles.  Also any markings including the flat spots.  Please put a ruler under it or behind it so that I can see the diameter of the ball.

I look forward to the additional pics.

Ralph

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QUESTION: I will send you a few more pics...thanks for the help

Answer
Hi Dan,  

This was probably fired from a cannon (culverin) and it got its flat spots when it hit something very hard like a stone wall.  The second flat spot from bouncing.  Although I don't know this for sure.  It could also have been removed from the mold a little to soon and developed the flat spots as it cooled.  This is a rare occurrence but did happen on occasion.  

Culverins were built from the late 1600's into the early 1800's but were used till WWI.  The balls, some steel others bronze were made into the 1880's in many different countries.  The French favored the Culverin size since it was a bit easier to transport and Napoleon had a lot of them (lost many to the Russians too).  The Russians used them well into the 1900's fighting with various internal factions.