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This does not make sense to me, I thought they were inert ?

1630Boston1630Boston Posts: 13,859 ✭✭✭✭✭
in Metal Detecting

Of course it is in Massachusetts!!
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Bomb squad called after Civil War-era cannon ball found in Mansfield home
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Family members cleaning a home on Charlene Drive, where their deceased father lived, found the relic and notified law enforcement officials, according to the Mansfield Police Department.

A state police bomb squad was then forced to conduct a controlled demolition because the munition revealed an unknown substance inside.

In a statement, Mansfield police said, “We want to apologize to our neighbors for the late-night noise. If you ever come across something similar, whether it be a cannonball or just old ammunition, call us and we will come to you. Don’t drive it to us and definitely don’t walk into the station with it.”

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Comments

  • 1630Boston1630Boston Posts: 13,859 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I guess I was wrong?

    The cannonballs and other artillery shells of this period were filled with a mixture of potassium nitrate, sulfur, and charcoal, commonly known as black powder.

    Black powder does not explode easily, and it needs a combination of friction and extremely high temperature – 572°F to cause it to detonate.

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  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Hmmmm.... I have a couple of old cannon balls found down by the Hudson River... pretty sure they are solid metal though. Guess I better recheck them... Cheers, RickO

  • Namvet69Namvet69 Posts: 9,067 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Better safe than blowed up. Peace Roy

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  • Bayard1908Bayard1908 Posts: 4,064 ✭✭✭✭
    edited July 9, 2022 3:23AM

    I remember a story from within the last 10 or 20 years about a guy who was an "expert" in Civil War munitions. He was using a grinder or sander to clean up an old "cannonball." The thing exploded, killing him and damaging his house. My recollection is that the cannonball type object was actually a waterproof naval shell. The inside contents were preserved by the waterproofing and sparks from the grinder set it off.

    Edit: the guy's name is Sam White. A Google search quickly locates the story.

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