star shot

[George]

Reading the Pennsylvania Gazette of 1756 I came across an advertisement from a brass founder offering for sale "star shot for cannon". Can anyone enlighten me about that?

Spence

 

[Josh Smith]

Spence, I too have seen it referenced in my readings, but, like you, have been unable to find anything on it.

I'm glad you brought this up, and am hoping that someone out there knows.

Josh

 

[poordevil]

http://www.nps.gov/casa/historyculture/cannons.htm

 

[George]

That's star shot, alright, but I think it must not be what this reference meant. Here's the entire advertisement:

The Pennsylvania Gazette
August 19, 1756

THOMAS GREGORY, Brassfounder, is removed from his shop in Third street to Second street, next door but one to the English church, at the sign of the three bells, where he makes ALL sorts of brass work suitable for the West India sugar mills, grist mills and saw mills, brass boxes for chaises and carts, mill brasses of all sorts, chambers for pumps, bells of all sizes, brass cohorns, star shot of all sizes for cannon, brass dogs, shovel and tongs brass heads, stirrups, cocks of all sorts, bell metal mortars, kettles and skillets, brass work for coaches and chaises, and a variety of other brass work, too tedious to mention, at the most reasonable rates.

N.B. Those who please to favour him with their custom, may depend upon being well used, and with the greatest dispatch. He gives the best prices for old brass and copper.

This guy was molding brass, and I think the star shot must have been brass.

Spence

 

[poordevil]

Maybe he made the banding?

 

[rmills1205]

I found two descriptions on the web, one a metal ring with 3 to 4 foot lengths of chain attached to it.

Another was similar but used cylinders attached to an iron ring.

Both described it as an anti rigging shot.