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c. 1770s Revolutionary War Era Cast Iron Hand Grenade or Exploding Cannonball

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:350.00 USD Estimated At:600.00 - 800.00 USD
c. 1770s Revolutionary War Era Cast Iron Hand Grenade or Exploding Cannonball
American Revolution
Rare Revolutionary War Era Cast Iron Hand Grenade
c. 1770 Revolutionary War Era, Cast Iron Hand Grenade Choice Very Fine.
This Revolutionary War Era Grenade or Cannonball measures about 3.25” in diameter. It has a nearly .75” hole made specifically to have had a tapered wooden plug that was hollow to admit the fuse to the center of the ball, which would have been packed with Gunpowder. These Grenades were lit and thrown by hand, either on land or in Navy warfare to clear enemy decks with their deadly shrapnel, or sometimes fired with a small mortar. This current example is very similar to an example show on page 131 of “Collector’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of the American Revolution” by Neumann and Kravic. This Grenade even has a small loose piece of lead still inside, the powder has been removed. A very rare and attractive, deadly, historic weapon of war which we have not had an opportunity to offer at auction for many years.