|
Date: |
|
Description: | Complete iron musket ball mould of the Post Medieval period, dating from c. AD 1700 - c. AD 1800.The mould has two curved arms, like scissors, meeting in a flat hinge with a central circular pin or rivet in it, visible on one side. It terminates in barrel shaped jaws which enclose a hollow spherical section in between the two halves. The two halves are circular in plan and semi-circular in profile on the inside with flat outer edges. Each half has a semi-circular groove cut out of one edge so that when the mould is held closed and they meet up, they form a circular hole for the molten lead to be poured through. The lead would cool and solidify within the mould and the jaws could then be opened to release the musket ball. The ball would be spherical apart from a small section of projecting metal or sprue from the hole where the lead was poured in. The mould has a sprue nipper just below the hinge to trim away the projection after the ball had cooled.The object measures 124.6 mm in length and is 42.5 mm wide at the curve of the arms, it is 18.5 mm wide at the jaws. It has a thickness of 4.1 mm at the arms and 17.9 mm thick at the jaws. It weighs 56.9 mm.The object is a mid to dark brown in colour with an uneven patina. There are red/brown traces of iron corrosion near to the hinge. Abrasion caused by movement whilst within the plough soil may have resulted in the loss of some of the original surface detail. Similar examples can be seen on the internet which are dated from the 18th century and those found in America that are very similar in style, date from c.1750-1870. Wilkinson (1969) illustrates a similar mould with two flintlock pistols dating to the late 18th century on page 47, Plate 8. Other British examples that date from the 17th and 19th centuries differ in their style and manufacture. A similar example has also been recorded on the database, CORN-034693. RefWilkinson, F. 1969 Antique Firearms, Guinness Signatures, London.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/ | Go to resource |
|
More Like this...
-
MOULD
Cast iron musket ball mould…
-
-
-
-
TONGS
Pair of simple iron tongs…
-
-
-
SHOT
A cast lead alloy shot…
-
SHOT
A cast lead alloy shot…
-
|