Original 6-pound Solid Shot Cannon Ball from Manassas, Va. / SOLD
Original 6-pound Solid Shot Cannon Ball from Manassas, Va. - Inventory Number: ART 471 / SOLD
A classic example of the type of ordnance widely used during the early years of the American Civil War. Cast in iron and measuring approximately 3.58 inches in diameter, this spherical projectile was designed for use in smoothbore field artillery—most notably the Model 1841 6-pounder gun, a mainstay of both Union and Confederate batteries in the war’s early campaigns.
This specimen exhibits a rich, dark patina with surface scaling consistent with age and long-term storage, yet remains solid and stable with no significant deterioration or damage. As a solid shot, it was intended to batter enemy positions, smash through fortifications, or cause destructive ricochets across open fields.
By mid-war, heavier rifled artillery began to replace the 6-pounder, making surviving examples of this size increasingly scarce. A well-preserved piece of Civil War artillery history, ideal for display or inclusion in a period ordnance collection.