A cannonball ... a pommel ... or what ?

cornelistromp · 24th December 2012, 10:35 PM

Hi fernando,

it is a counterweight for a scale, also sometimes old sword pommels are used.

best,

fernando · 25th December 2012, 01:39 PM

Thank you for that, Jasper.
However ... i can't resist asking you for further comments.
I was aware of pommels being used in scale counterweights, during their reincarnation. We can see a wide collection in the catalogue of the Schweizerischen Landesmuseum.
I also have one of the steelyard scales as shown, where i am using a cannonball weight for a load ... this also something i though was a one man's idea but have recently seen quite a few in two different collections.
My dilemma is: The object in discussion is hardly a pommel, as there is no trace of having had a hole for a sword tang. On the other hand, i can't imagine it having been made in purpose to be a weight, as hardly someone would care to give it a faceted shape for such linear use.
So ... what would have been the prior use this device ? It does look relatively old.

.

fernando · 26th December 2012, 06:30 PM

According to Rainer Daehnhardt this faceted ball is a component of grape shot. He has them of various calibers in his collection; naturaly they are not so common as round balls.
However the only grape shot he has complete in his collection is made of round balls.

.

M ELEY · 27th December 2012, 09:59 AM

I'm wondering if the reason this grapeshot (if that is what it is) was made to be octogonal? Did it make it easier to pack and stack inside of a casing? Or was it the belief that a non-round projectile would inflict more damage as it tore through tissue. Not to be graphic, but there was a time when so-called 'pain-bullets' were created, using lead balls that were purposely scored to fragment open. Other lead shot rounds had nails hammered through them to inflict more damage. Just thinking aloud.

fernando · 27th December 2012, 01:32 PM

Well, you know; " i am selling the idea for the price i bought it " ... if you know what i mean; always ready to consider a contradiction.
Jasper's remark, which i thank, that this is a weight, is also worthy of surprise, as weights are hardly faceted.
Remember that who told me that this is a procjectile component has a few of them with different diameters, which gives some consistence to the assumption.
Until further notice, i will keep it as such in my records.

24th December 2012, 10:35 PM	#1
cornelistromp Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1,060	Hi fernando, it is a counterweight for a scale, also sometimes old sword pommels are used. best, Attached Images

25th December 2012, 01:39 PM	#2
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Thank you for that, Jasper. However ... i can't resist asking you for further comments. I was aware of pommels being used in scale counterweights, during their reincarnation. We can see a wide collection in the catalogue of the Schweizerischen Landesmuseum. I also have one of the steelyard scales as shown, where i am using a cannonball weight for a load ... this also something i though was a one man's idea but have recently seen quite a few in two different collections. My dilemma is: The object in discussion is hardly a pommel, as there is no trace of having had a hole for a sword tang. On the other hand, i can't imagine it having been made in purpose to be a weight, as hardly someone would care to give it a faceted shape for such linear use. So ... what would have been the prior use this device ? It does look relatively old. . Attached Images

26th December 2012, 06:30 PM	#3
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Believe it or not According to Rainer Daehnhardt this faceted ball is a component of grape shot. He has them of various calibers in his collection; naturaly they are not so common as round balls. However the only grape shot he has complete in his collection is made of round balls. . Attached Images

27th December 2012, 09:59 AM	#4
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,165	I'm wondering if the reason this grapeshot (if that is what it is) was made to be octogonal? Did it make it easier to pack and stack inside of a casing? Or was it the belief that a non-round projectile would inflict more damage as it tore through tissue. Not to be graphic, but there was a time when so-called 'pain-bullets' were created, using lead balls that were purposely scored to fragment open. Other lead shot rounds had nails hammered through them to inflict more damage. Just thinking aloud.

27th December 2012, 01:32 PM	#5
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Well, you know; " i am selling the idea for the price i bought it " ... if you know what i mean; always ready to consider a contradiction. Jasper's remark, which i thank, that this is a weight, is also worthy of surprise, as weights are hardly faceted. Remember that who told me that this is a procjectile component has a few of them with different diameters, which gives some consistence to the assumption. Until further notice, i will keep it as such in my records.