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3rd June 2016, 04:57 AM | #1 |
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And of course, you picked up two of them in order to give one to your bestest friend on this side of the pond!
Congrats, Fernando! Very nice edition to your collection! |
3rd June 2016, 11:43 AM | #2 | |
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Thank you Mark. In fact, it was a kind soul that spotted it and organized its acquisition. Lucky me |
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3rd June 2016, 12:21 PM | #3 |
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3rd June 2016, 01:30 PM | #4 |
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3rd July 2016, 02:33 AM | #5 |
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I wonder about the slag part. The cannon in question were rifled so that impurities that changed the cross sectional weight distribution would not be "averaged out" during flight. That would lead to erratic flight.
I would think that the purest of pure material would have been sought after for producing these critters. I have participated in cannon shoots at Camp Grayling in Michigan, USA where very serious guys shoot black powder cannon. My son was on a team for an 8" siege mortar, unrifled, naturally. The team had their ammo numbered and would load it according to a mark so that it was always loaded the same way. Presumably to account for any impurities. Based on that observation, it seems unlikely to me that slag was used. Is there any documentary evidence to support the use of slag for making projectiles? Fernando, you could allow us to cut one of your specimens in half so we can be sure. Picture shows the kid firing the mortar. Really amazing to experience that. |
3rd July 2016, 08:19 AM | #6 |
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a very interesting link on cannon balls for those who are able to understand German
http://kanonen-kugeln.de/kanonenkuge...3%BCtz-kugeln/ corrado26 |
3rd July 2016, 04:27 PM | #7 | |
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I am not keen on ballistic dynamics, neither i am a shooter (army time sufficed). But i take it that, in 1575 cannons were not rifled (were they ?) and erratic trajectories would be in the daily menu. However nothing avoids that these ammunitions were only cast as a token to commemorate the opening of the Duke's foundries. That the example in discussion (and others of the same lot) is slag, i would have now doubts; you don't need to judge it by its general atypical aspect, as its weight speaks for itself, being significantly lighter than iron: 2056 grams for an approximate 10 cms. diameter. |
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3rd July 2016, 06:25 PM | #8 |
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To Duke Julius the effectiveness of his cannon balls made of slag was well known. This slag of the cannon balls contained ca. 10% of heavy spar, 15 % of zinc and 10% sulphur. These ingredients avoided the natural healing process of wounds. The balls have been made with Diameters of 180, 94 and 74 mm and sold in great amounts to interested buyers.
Some years ago such balls in an amount of more than 1000 have been found during digging works. corrado26 |
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