Early American
History Auctions
Auctions@EarlyAmerican.com
Phone: 858-759-3290
Type in Your EMAIL Address
to Receive Notices
of Important Events

Auctions
• SATURDAY - April 19th
• Terms of Sale
• Print Out a Bid Form
Links to Other Sites:
• Tortuga Trading
This Auction is Now OPEN for Bidding
Closing LIVE ONLINE: SATURDAY • April 19th • Starting at 9:00 AM Pacific Time
Absentee Bidding on a Specific Lot Will Remain OPEN
Until the LIVE BIDDING begins for that Specific Lot on SATURDAY • April 19th
Click for a Printable Page
Estimate Range: $1,200 - $1,800
Current Bidding Status
This Lot is CLOSED for Absentee Bidding.
Circa 1780-1812 Early Naval Cannon Military Chain Shot

Click an Image to Enlarge It
c. 1780-1812 Revolutionary to War of 1812 Era, Naval Cannon Bar Shot, both Iron Balls measuring 2.75” wide with an 8” long chain that extend fully to 12.75” long, in excellent apparently unused condition, having a natural rich age patina, Choice Extremely Fine.

This original Naval Cannon Chain Shot measures about 12.75” long extended each iron ball about 2.75” in diameter. It is similar to examples used during both the Revolutionary War Period through the War of 1812 and beyond. These heavy solid ball and chain projectiles were specifically made to either tear the rigging out of enemy ships, or to rip through a close formation of sailors or soldiers. Their shape caused them to spin while in flight and caused far more damage than a conventional straight flying round cannon ball. Militaria collectors find these to be one of the most desirable and interesting forms of 18th-19th century naval fighting ordnance. A clean and impressive example worthy of display.
Naval artillery in the Age of Sail encompasses the period of roughly 1571-1862: when large, sail-powered wooden naval warships dominated the high seas, mounting a bewildering variety of different types and sizes of cannon as their main armament.

By modern standards, these cannon were extremely inefficient, difficult to load, and short ranged. These characteristics, along with the handling and seamanship of the ships that mounted them, defined the environment in which the naval tactics in the Age of Sail developed. Chain Shot - Two balls, sized for cannon different lengths of chain. Their effect was typically devastating.
Click for a Printable Page
Estimate Range: $1,200 - $1,800
Early American History Auctions, Inc.
1520 Commerce St., # 312 • Winchester, VA 22601
Phone: 858 • 759 • 3290
Email: Auctions@EarlyAmerican.com