Dear Peter,
I was referring to the first cannon, from the 14th and 15th centuries,
rather than the 16th century. In the 14th century, the ammunition specified
is usually lead, stone or arrows. There is an early reference to iron shot
which may be cast rather than wrought in 1418 for the city of Ghent.
Ruth Brown
----- Original Message -----
From: "Peter Hutchison" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, December 16, 2000 1:11 PM
Subject: Re: Metal moulds for cast iron
> Ruth
>
> The Pirotechnia of Vannoccio Biringucchio was published in 1540. His date
of
> 1495, when he was 15 and Naples was attacked by King Charles of France, is
> likely to be correct for the first iron cannon balls used in Italy. The
> troubled Kingdoms of Italy meant that Biringucchio
> was widely travelled but he was a founder and armourer so should know
about
> such things as casting cannon balls.
>
> I am in no position to argue with Cyril Stanley Smith about whether iron
> musket
> balls were earlier.
>
> Peter
>
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