Two Cannonball Ring Gauges

These cannonball gauges were used to slip over the cannon ball to assure that the cannonball would fit down the barrel without jamming. Jamming on the way down the cannon bore would result in the cannon not firing properly and could explode in the barrel and injuring the cannon operating crew.
The first and the second photos are of an American Revolutionary War cannonball ring gauge. It gauged a 3-pound cannonball. The cannonball having a dia. of 2.80 inches. The cannonball gauge has a ring diameter of 2.85 inches. This gauge is hand forged and hammer welded together. It has a hooked opposite end to hang on the cannoneer's belt. This gauge is somewhat distorted, so I decided not to try to make it truly round again for fear that the reshaping would it possibly could crack or break the vintage wrought iron construction.
The third and fourth photos are of an American Civil War cannonball ring gauge. It gauged a 4-pound cannonball. The cannonball itself, having a diameter of 3.09 inches. This cannonball gauge has a ring diameter of 3.15 inches. This gauge appears to have been cast in iron. It possibly was made for a navel cannon, because, on the handle is the stamping (U.S. and a shape of an anchor).