16th/17th century chain shot

[broadaxe]

Originally Posted by M ELEY

So many times for the early types of barshot, one sees the four-sided bar attached to two cylindrical balls. I have heard others say that the classic barbell type with round bar and balls existed, perhaps late 18th/early 19th century? I have what I believe to be one of these types and will post pics. The only other thing one might say is that it is so-called "early strongman circus barbell type", but mine seems to fit the pattern of barshot better.
Does anyone have any arsenal pics or museum artifacts showing this type? I've been researching this area for awhile, but not alot of indepth info out there...

I never thought of it this way, but since you put it, I think of a problem: if you load a cannon of sort with a proper diameter "barbell", you get a projectile more than twice the weight of the regular cannon ball: 1ball+bar+1ball; so you need much more powder with the danger of exploding your cannon. The bar shots I'm aware of are consisted of two half-balls connected via simple or extending (sliding) bar, so the weight is just marginally higher.

[M ELEY]

Point well taken, but I have seen fully round barshot, not the half shot popular with British and American ships. It's just that the full shot always seem to have the square bars, yet many contemporary sources will show penciled sketches of barshot looking exactly like barbells (i.e. with a rounded bar). Michael shows one example above in close-up of what appears to be what I'm speaking of, but it is broken and consists of just the ball and a partial stub of a round bar. Can anyone find other examples??

[fernando]

Originally Posted by M ELEY

... Can anyone find other examples?? ...

http://marinhadeguerraportuguesa.blo...de-lisboa.html




.

[M ELEY]

Thanks, Fernando. I had some old sites showing potential barshot for which I'm speaking, but upon trying to upload sites and pics from them, none still work-

[M ELEY]

Trying again-
www.submerged.co.uk/cannonballs%205%20big.jpg
http://www.travelmuse.com/articles/o...unken-treasure

[M ELEY]

Attachments...maybe?! The second reported to be War of 1812 with provenance from battle site.

[fernando]

The Ebay example looks a but phoney to me
Looking more like a lifting weight, or other sort of thing

[Matchlock]

Hi Mark and 'Nando,

I liked your contributions - thanks a lot, guys!

Best,
Michael/Michl