Posted 1 year ago
Ladyfrom29P
(1 item)
Hi there, my friend found this round ball and thinking that since I used to work on USMC Base 29 Palms, that I would know what it was. (pic 1)
It’s found in open desert near the Red Cloud Mine area (towards Blythe and on the south side of the I-10.). I have asked my military history friends and they didn't know. they knew history of battles, but not something like this.
It's not pure lead as you can see from the weight (pic 2), It's not magnetic, It's 2 inches across, so a 2 inch bore weapon of some kind like a canonette?
Based on the location, it could range from Conquistador times (they did use canonettes) to the last century when the Buffalo Soldiers (among others) went through here. There are hundreds of mineral mines in the area but It’s not a ball used for crushing ore from the mines either as it is too soft. Those were iron and I have 1-2 of those (pic 4). They were not perfectly round, just round enough for crushing.
Someone suggested a ball for crushing caked gun powder with their reasoning being "as it doesn’t spark". We don’t know what metal it is and if it sparks or not and we won’t try. Even old munitions can surprise you as you well know.
The area is near the Red Cloud Mine and is shown on the maps (pics 4 & 5) and is just south of the I-10, 2 exits west of Desert Center.
I had found something similar in of all places downtown saint louis north of the arch near the vacant cotton mill building. It was heavy and looks similar to yours except it had a brittle metal wire sticking out. Im guessing this an old demolition explosive.
Or maybe something to do with munitions of cannons?
I treat it rather gingerly. Keep it in the dark away from heat.
hi there, it is in the dark and safe. once we determine what it is, we will turn it over to the Marine Base that I just retired from in Twentynine Palms. there it will be destroyed safely. the problem is, they won't take it unless we know what it is...or at least that's what we were told by them when we found mortars in the desert. i have asked gun pages, munitions pages, history pages, etc.
I recall when I lived in Washington DC in the 1990's, they found live munitions under people's homes near American Univ. Some included nerve gas! yikes. so yes, we're handling it safely, we just can't hand it in for destruction until we know what it is. thanks for your help :)