Rights Holder: Royal Institution of Cornwall
CC License:
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Unique ID: CORN-034693
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
Cast iron musket ball mould with two curved arms, like scissors, meeting in a flat hinge with a central pin in it, and terminating 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 with flat outer edges. Each half has a semi-circular aperture 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 before the hinge to trim away the projection after the ball had cooled.
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.
Notes:
Recorded at Fowey Finds Day on 22/01/11.
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Late
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1700
Date to: Circa AD 1800
Quantity: 1
Length: 165 mm
Width: 25 mm
Thickness: 26 mm
Weight: 138.06 g
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Primary material: Iron
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete
4 Figure: SX1354
Four figure Latitude: 50.356135
Four figure longitude: -4.630204
1:25K map: SX1354
1:10K map: SX14SW
Grid reference source: From a paper map
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wilkinson, F. | 1969 | Antique Firearms | London | Guinness Signatures | 47, Plate 8 |