1068. Iron cannonball grenade, Spanish colonial, 1600s.
1233 grams, 3” diameter. Typical ball but hollow and with hole in
side for packing in powder to explode upon reaching the target, solid but with deeply pitted surface, somewhat rusty but very stable. In acrylic display case, with certificate. Estimate: $150-$225.
1069. Revolutionary War-period iron cannonballgrenade for mortar, ca. 1780. 8500 grams, 6” diameter. Large,
hollow ball with hole in side, designed to contain powder and fuse to explode upon reaching its target, somewhat pitted and with slight rust but very stable (professionally conserved). Found at a colonial site near the James River, Virginia. Estimate: $250-$375.
1070. British naval wooden rammer for 6-lb cannon, dated 1749. 850 grams, 31” long. Basically a long wooden rod with wider tamping end marked with date 1749 and other numbers and letters and terminating in a lead disk held in with iron nails (one burl-void and some chipping of the wood at that end), the other end with steel loop-cuff, tiny tacks in handle at what appear to be intervals of some unknown significance. Estimate: $500-$750.
1071. French brass sector (for gunnery calculations), 1700s.
141 grams, 13” long. A rare instrument used primarily for calculating artillery angles and distances on the battlefield, with numeric scales and French script engraved all over on two flat arms connected by a circular hinge on the left, complete and in excellent (undamaged) condition. With certificate. Estimate: $350-$500.
1072. Brass-bound oak gunpowder barrel,
English, 1700s (Georgian). 2647 grams, 10” tall and
7-1/2” diameter. An intact, small barrel with four brass straps, small pouring hole at one end and larger hole (plug missing) in side, the wood in excellent condition (still with old lacquer on sides) save for a minor crack at one end, very interesting and seldom-seen artifact. With certificate. Estimate: $200-$300.
1073. British naval artillery powder-bag passbox, 1800s. 1657 grams, 16” tall, 8” diameter.
This wide canvas tube is so thickly coated on the outside as to have the feel of papier-mache, with British Royal arms (lion and unicorn flanking a crowned oval shield) in many colors painted on the side, brass rivets near top connecting to a leather carry-handle, the interior a plain grayish canvas, very sturdy and in excellent condition considering its age and use by “powder monkeys” to take the powder bags from the magazine to the cannons during battle. With certificate. Estimate: $350-$500.
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