Is this what I think it is?

[tabdog]

I found this close to what I believe was a Confererate
artillary installation.

It is copper and soldered very well.

It's 2 13/8" tall and 2 1/8" in dia.

It looks like a cup.

I think it is a 3 lb cannon shot cup.

I have not been able to ID it for shure.

I put some musket balls in it for this photo.
It will hold over fifty of them.

I found this mini ball within 50' of the ? cup.

Happy Hunting,

Tabdog

 

[Russ]

Wow

If so, that is awesome

 

[Ed in KC]

Cool find! It almost looks like it's copper clad on the outside and galvanized on the inside.

 

[Steve in PR]

Are there markings inside or are they just scratches?

 

[tabdog]

Hay Ed,

It is solid copper.
The galvanized look on the inside is solder.
They glazed the inside with solder.
A very thorough job of soldering.

Happy Hunting,
Tabdog

 

[tabdog]

Hay Steve,

The markings on the inside are just scratches.

When I dug it, it was crushed and looked like trash.

I was not very careful with it at first.

But then, I started realizing that it is very old.

My careless misstake.

Happy Hunting,

Tabdog

 

[RickO]

Very cool find.... check some of the civil war forums .... they will help. RickO

 

[cammobunker]

it's too small to be a 6 pounder cannister shot.....no clue.

 

[SeabeeRon]

That's a great find Tab!! Seems like someone in Alabama found something similar awhile back. Wish I could find that thread for you.

 

[wyoming hunter]

mabe soldiers cooked in it? just a thought

 

[Beefcake]

Tabdog... you found the very first Folger's can ever made...congratulations! lol j/k That is pretty sweet buddy! I hope you find out it is what you think it is... Sure looks like it would fit the bill in my book!

 

[RelicHound]

man it sure does look like one...kinda small tho would be the only reason i would think not. i found one that im 100% sure its a shot canister,it was smashed as well but i was able to straighten it out pretty good,it has an identical seem to yours,its big enough my fist will fit inside of it and ive got pretty large hands. could be for a smaller cannon.

 

[tabdog]

Hay Relic Hound,

You said:

...kinda small tho would be the only reason i would think not

The size is exactly the size of a 3 pound cannon shot
canister shot cup. I got that info off the Internet. I also
know that the 3 pound cannon was used by Arkansas
troupes during the Civil War. They were out dated but
common in Arkansas during the Civil War.

I personally have fired an orriginal Arkansas Civil War
3 pound cannon on several occasions. We even used
to fire it at Arkansas Razorback football games.

We made shot cannister cups out of frozen orange juice
cans which are the same diameter. Orange juice cans
were made out of metal back then.

The only problem is, I cannot find a photo of a 3 pound
cannon shot canister cup.

Happy Hunting,

Tabdog

 

[Ed in KC]

I guess if I was to ask if it had the faint smell of sardines, it wouldn't be of much help?

 

[tabdog]

Well Ed,

Maybe that smell might last 150 years.lol

Hay Wyoming Hunter, I thought about that.

It would have been a lot of trouble to make

a drinking cup like that. In that event, they

would have made a rolled edge on top to

protect the lips.

It is the size of a 3 pound cannon cannister

shot cup. I found that info on the Internet.

I was in a historical organization. As a teen

I used to fire an original Civil War Arkansas

3 pound cannon on several occasions.

We even fired it at the start of arkansas

Razorback foot ball games.

We used to make canister shot cups out of orange

juice cans, which were the same diameter.

Orange juce cans were made of metal back then.

Happy Hunting Tabdog

 

[RelicHound]

well now that you say somthing it does look like a 3lb shot can...my dad has a repro 3 pound cannon and he makes his cups from alum. foil,he uses a frozen juice can to mold the cups. i really wasnt thinking that 3# cannons where used much but i reckon the confederates used any artillery they could get even if it was out dated.

 

[tabdog]

Thanks Relic Hound,

Not many people realize that 3 pound cannons

were used in the Civil War.

You could load one three times quicker than a

6 pound cannon. The range was some what

shorter, but the distructive power of a 3 pound

ball was the same as the 6 pound.

Proplem was, you couldn't put as much shot in

a 3 lb cup. Also you couldn't have fused charges.

The 3 pound cannon is concidered a Revelutionary

War cannon.

But the Arkansas Artillary regements used them

during the Civil War.

They were known to use shot cups in them also.

I just can not nail it down my find for sure.

Thanks,

Tabdog

 

[foreverRich]

Here is a picture of one of the canisters at Gettysburg Battlefield. Sure looks like what you found.

 

[Snowy]

YUP! I'm with Rich! Good going!!