Before the Ball: Clod Shot of 1375 - the Earliest Lead Gun Ammunition!

Matchlock · 21st November 2013, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andi

Don't you think that the newtron-tomographic and radiograpic images of the cannonballs from Mary Rose may also suggest that the lead ball could have been casted arund the iron core? The position of the iron core on the edge of one side of the lead ball indicates to me that it was casted and the iron clod was positioned outside of the centre while laying on the bottom of form. Even when i guess that an experienced metal caster should be able to produce balls with a centered core.

Or is it possible that the emphasis was intentially dislocated from the center of weight? - Bus this wouldn't make any sense to me.

Hi Andi,

There is of course more than one possibility how these iron cores could have been made.
All I can tell with authority is that mine was cast in a mold, and hammering them to such a smooth and perfect surface is just out of my mind (without intending to brag, I got a lot of smithing experience).
I will post images soon though.

Best,
Michael

Matchlock · 21st November 2013, 04:17 PM

The sample from collection, weighing 1 kg and very similar to the bottom image in post #28.

The traces where the mold halves joined are clearly visible, so it was cast.
It weighs 1.2 kg!

Any guesses what the central holes on the six larger sides might have been for?

Best,
Michael

21st November 2013, 04:17 PM	#2
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	The sample from collection, weighing 1 kg and very similar to the bottom image in post #28. The traces where the mold halves joined are clearly visible, so it was cast. It weighs 1.2 kg! Any guesses what the central holes on the six larger sides might have been for? Best, Michael Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 21st November 2013 at 08:55 PM.