Clodshot found in Kufstein Austria

[Raf]

Of course your right . Makes no sense as an armour piercing projectile unless someone digs up a smaller version. Simply mis read Marcus ( very clear ) description. Still intrigued by the square cores. Reminds me of the interchangeable chambers of Mr Puckles quick - firing gun . Round bullets for Christians . Square bullets for the rest . One does wonder what put this idea into his head.

[Marcus den toom]

hahah, no problem Richard.

And Raf, as per request here are some iron core and stone core clodshot pieces from my collection.
The vary from 2-2,5cm.

[Raf]

Thanks Marcus . So to be absolutely clear the smaller iron cored projectiles have a diameter of around 2.5 cm , 1 inch imperial . About the bore of an average anti personnel hand - cannon of the period .

[Marcus den toom]

That is correct Raf
My own haquebut has a similar bore of about 22mm and many of my hand cannons have a bore up to 34mm.

[kronckew]

cool. the festung looks like it has had a number of upgrades since the above, with some more 'modern' emplacements and vauban style structures.

[fernando]

Raf's approach to the Puckle gun shows us an amazing angle of the bullet history.
Not yet knowing about it, i browsed the Net and i found in the Wiki such bizarre justification for his selection of different bullet shapes:

Puckle demonstrated two configurations of the basic design: one, intended for use against Christian enemies, fired conventional round bullets, while the second, designed to be used against the Muslim Turks, fired square bullets. The square bullets were considered to be more damaging. They would, according to the patent, "convince the Turks of the benefits of Christian civilization."...

Back to ancient clod shot, not only Marcus has the examples he shows us here but i am aware that he is also familiar with square or, better say, cylindrical whole lead bullets, which are also an interesting variant of these ancient projectiles.
The ones below are also very interesting, although not so intrincate as those initially shown.

And if i may digress a bit more ...
I bet you people are aware that although gunmakers only decided to change the bullets shape to a cylindrical and pointed design in the second quarter XIX century, there are drawings of Leonardo Da Vinci showing such idea.
I was also thrilled when a year ago i handled a fine flintlock musket with a square bore, something i thought to be only a fantasy. But i took it as just an exhibiting purpose of both gunmaker and customer, that not for practical reasons.

[kronckew]

add two sides and you get the whitworth hexagonal projectile used with hexagonal rifling. a design used up to the present (by Heckler-Koch). that makes a projectile suitable for christians and muslims