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  1. 8th May 2008, 10:54 PM #1
    Frank&Earnest
    Frank&Earnest is offline GOLD MEMBER
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    Default What kind of ball maker?

    A small challenge for the collective wisdom. In the photo is what obviously is a mould to make a lead ball. The question is: would that be for an 18th century pistol bullet or a more mundane 20th century fishing sink?

    Barely visible near the cutter is the number 17 (the shape of the 7 is rather European looking), which could be a maker's reference or possibly the diametre of the ball, which looks close to 17mm or 5/8".

    Has anybody seen one of these before?
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  3. 8th May 2008, 11:04 PM #2
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    DavidG
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    Rough guess - 18th century pistol bullet mold.
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  4. 8th May 2008, 11:24 PM #3
    bsrlee
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    Its a musket ball mold, the bit between the handles is for clipping off the casting sprue, then if you want really good round balls you roll them between 2 glass plates. The number 17 could be referring to 17 gauge - 17 balls to the pound, which would be a quick load for a 16 gauge musket or shotgun, which were often loaded with a mix of 1 full size ball and some pea sized shot for man or medium sized game.
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  5. 9th May 2008, 12:00 AM #4
    Frank&Earnest
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    Default

    Thanks guys, you have been very quick. Armed with your info I have googled "musket ball mould" and found it immediately. The image is absolutely identical. It is Civil War American, its Google twin was found in Gettysburg. I knew I could count on the forum's wisdom!
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  6. 18th May 2008, 01:11 PM #5
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    prozac
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    From experience I think that brslee is quite a repository of information looking for a good home.

    prozac
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  7. 18th May 2008, 02:17 PM #6
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    echnidna
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    Default

    do you want a recipe for black powder etc?
    Regards, Bob Thomas

    www.wombatsawmill.com
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