Possible Chinese Cannonball

[NOVICHOK-5]

Trying to ID an Item , it appears to be a cannonball with a screw in plug.

ID features of the Item:
-likely Iron/steel (rusted but just lite surface rust)
-machined texture , doesnt appear to be cast.
-size approx 130mm
-has a screw in plug(flat/slot type screw head) ,plug is round shaped head to match contures of item
-plug is approx 21mm(7/8")in diameter
-markings around plug hole CHINA on one side and 81 R on the other side(could be a poorly stamped B aswell since china is poorly stamped also)

Things that concern me with the item:
-Item has a substantial weight to it, wouldnt be a concern if it didnt have the plug.
-plug doesnt appear to have been removed in a very long time, there is a good amount of rust and other material(dirt maybe) around the plug.

* I dont believe the plug is a fuze as it is simular if not the same material as the Item and there are no markings on the plug its self.

** I will see if I can get pictures later , although I dont think they will help anymore with the ID of the item as it is just a sphere and I have included any possible ID features that are there.

 

[US-Subs]

Often mistaken for cannon balls are track and field shot-puts. About 4-inches in diameter, with a fill plug to adjust the weight, they can look very similar to early fuzes. What would make me suspicious is that a Chinese cannon ball would have Chinese characters, it would not say "China", nor have a B stamped onto it.

I had a brass one abandoned in front of my Bombatorium a few weeks ago, apparently someone thought that they were leaving it in the best place. The brass should be worth enough to buy me a couple bullets.

 

[NOVICHOK-5]

After you pointed me in the right direction I did a google image search and you are 100 percent right on what it was , thanks .

 

[John D. Bartleson Jr.]

Sphere;

As Subs pointed out shotputs are normally made of brass and have a brass plug which is removed to add lead weights to bring the competition shot put up to standard. They are cast, not milled and cast marks are removed. How about a photo showing ball and plug?
Regards,
John

 

[US-Subs]

John was my confirmation source for the one I was recently given, I meant to give you credit there John -

 

[NOVICHOK-5]

 

[NOVICHOK-5]

That is not the Item I have sitting on the shelf at the office but it looks exacly like that right down to the machining marks , only thing missing on the picture is the markings and the one we have the slot in the plug doesnt extend to the full diameter of the plug