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$178.50
Original: $595.00
-70%Original U.S. American Civil War Federal 8-Inch Columbiad 50lb Cannon Ball with Fuze—
$595.00
$178.50The Story
Original Item. Only One Available. The columbiad was a large-caliber, smoothbore, muzzle-loading cannon able to fire heavy projectiles at both high and low trajectories. This feature enabled the columbiad to fire solid shot or shell to long ranges, making it an excellent seacoast defense weapon for its day. Invented by Colonel George Bomford, United States Army, in 1811, columbiads were used in United States seacoast defense from the War of 1812 until the early years of the 20th century. Very few columbiads were used outside of the U.S. and Confederate Armies; nevertheless, the columbiad is considered by some as the inspiration for the later shell-only cannons developed by Frenchman Henri-Joseph Paixhans some 30 years later.
This is what we believe to be an 8-Inch 50lb Columbiad cannon ball with an intact fuze. The cannonball measures roughly 7¾” in diameter, and weighs in at 50.8 Pounds. In our research, this appears to be an 8-Inch Columbiad, with 10 pounds of charge, and meant to weigh 50 lbs. This example does not have holes for carrying tongs. The fuze may have originally had embossed letters on the sides but they are now lost to time. This example was excavated many years ago. We believe it to be a Columbiad, but we are not entirely certain of this, making for a good research project.
It is extraordinarily heavy and has some areas of material loss or what appear to be areas reinforced. A very interesting and oxidized example. Comes ready for further research and display.
Between 1858 and the end of the Civil War, Northern foundries produced eight-inch (203 mm), ten-inch (254 mm), fifteen-inch (381 mm) and twenty-inch Rodman style columbiads. The smaller-bore columbiads shared similar range factors to the older weapons, but the fifteen-inch (381 mm) models weighed over 25 tons and could fire 400-pound projectiles out to 5,000 yards (4,600 m). The monster twenty-inch model weighed over 60 tons but could range to over 5 miles (8.0 km). Very few of the largest types were built, and none were fired in anger during the war. Sling carts were used to transport these guns to the forts where they were emplaced in gun carriages.
The Confederate States also used columbiads extensively, mostly stocks captured from Federal arsenals at the time of secession. These acquitted themselves well against early ironclad warships. In addition, the Confederates produced limited quantities of eight-inch (203 mm) and ten-inch (254 mm) columbiads without the Rodman process; these could not withstand sustained use. The Confederates also rifled some columbiads in an effort to improve weapon performance.
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Details & Craftsmanship
Every detail has been carefully considered to bring you the perfect product.
Details & Craftsmanship
Every detail has been carefully considered to bring you the perfect product.
Details & Craftsmanship
Every detail has been carefully considered to bring you the perfect product.
Details & Craftsmanship
Every detail has been carefully considered to bring you the perfect product.
Details & Craftsmanship
Every detail has been carefully considered to bring you the perfect product.
Description
Original Item. Only One Available. The columbiad was a large-caliber, smoothbore, muzzle-loading cannon able to fire heavy projectiles at both high and low trajectories. This feature enabled the columbiad to fire solid shot or shell to long ranges, making it an excellent seacoast defense weapon for its day. Invented by Colonel George Bomford, United States Army, in 1811, columbiads were used in United States seacoast defense from the War of 1812 until the early years of the 20th century. Very few columbiads were used outside of the U.S. and Confederate Armies; nevertheless, the columbiad is considered by some as the inspiration for the later shell-only cannons developed by Frenchman Henri-Joseph Paixhans some 30 years later.
This is what we believe to be an 8-Inch 50lb Columbiad cannon ball with an intact fuze. The cannonball measures roughly 7¾” in diameter, and weighs in at 50.8 Pounds. In our research, this appears to be an 8-Inch Columbiad, with 10 pounds of charge, and meant to weigh 50 lbs. This example does not have holes for carrying tongs. The fuze may have originally had embossed letters on the sides but they are now lost to time. This example was excavated many years ago. We believe it to be a Columbiad, but we are not entirely certain of this, making for a good research project.
It is extraordinarily heavy and has some areas of material loss or what appear to be areas reinforced. A very interesting and oxidized example. Comes ready for further research and display.
Between 1858 and the end of the Civil War, Northern foundries produced eight-inch (203 mm), ten-inch (254 mm), fifteen-inch (381 mm) and twenty-inch Rodman style columbiads. The smaller-bore columbiads shared similar range factors to the older weapons, but the fifteen-inch (381 mm) models weighed over 25 tons and could fire 400-pound projectiles out to 5,000 yards (4,600 m). The monster twenty-inch model weighed over 60 tons but could range to over 5 miles (8.0 km). Very few of the largest types were built, and none were fired in anger during the war. Sling carts were used to transport these guns to the forts where they were emplaced in gun carriages.
The Confederate States also used columbiads extensively, mostly stocks captured from Federal arsenals at the time of secession. These acquitted themselves well against early ironclad warships. In addition, the Confederates produced limited quantities of eight-inch (203 mm) and ten-inch (254 mm) columbiads without the Rodman process; these could not withstand sustained use. The Confederates also rifled some columbiads in an effort to improve weapon performance.
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