Musket balls???

[flipper]

I found these in seperate fields...i were just wondering if either are a MUSKET BALL... they are both heavy in weight, but not perfectly round.

Q. If they are made of Lead and they are musket balls is their any precautions i should make handling/storing them as i have also read that older lead is of a higher content and could therefore be potentially dangerous

thanks in advance... flip

[Al.Thepastfinder, ( Alan )]

yeah Flipper White lead is very toxic mate,  be wearing gloves or wash your hands after handling, as thats been said if they hit a stone or something their shape with change under the impact,
heres some of mine  from the mid 1600's to the early 1900s,  the smaller ones are pistol shots,.

[Radnor Bandit (Ian)]

A basic rule of thumb for dating round shot, if they appear to be cast in two parts (as they were) with a seam around the middle these are pre 19th century , whereas the more uniform (without seam) are 19th century and later.
This is due to the invention of the shot tower. This was a tall tower where the molten lead was dropped from, it was discovered that this process using gravity formed perfect spheres.
More info here

http://testweb.chester.gov.uk/PDF/HeritageBriefing_LeadWorks.pdf

[Gadget(Ian)]

nice link bandit i have heared this story a few times and didnt believe it nice to have a link to prove the theory well done mate annother bit of history put to bed for me.

[sodbuster]

I believe they used to make some musket balls with inentations in them called "chewed" musket balls, The idea being to inflict even more damage as they passed through the body.
 

[Gadget(Ian)]

annother nice link there flipper a interesting thread.

[romano-brit]

yep thats where the phrase, bite the bullet came from, they used to chew on musket balls whilst having sugery and also to help produce suliva when thirsty