Unusual item on Ebay

[ewag2]

Does anyone know what this is? I have never seen anything like it before. I'm curious if anyone here has. If not, I'd also be interested if anyone has any theories about it and its strange construction. Thanks, Rob

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Fra...c6a4601&pid=100033&rk=1&rkt=4&sd=172172764543

 

[doppz92]

This isn't artillery related, even from far, it's the ancestor of the French game "Petanque" ball.
All explanations here (unfortunately in French)
http://www.museedelaboule.com/fabrication.htm or more pictures when researching for "old petanque balls".

 

[37bis]

Hello,
This kind of wooden ball covered with nails was used in France (and probably elsewhere) for games balls, stronger than simple bare wooden balls.
Look : (sorry, only in french) : http://tourtour.village.free.fr/?Les-boules-cloutees
Didier

 

[siegfreid]

I've lost count of the times these have been listed as "ordnance related" . It's a Petanque ball , always was & always will be . I can't believe that the seller doesn't know this .

 

[ewag2]

Thanks for all the replies! I have never seen this type of ball before. I did have my doubts about the item because of the strange construction, such as the hobnails and that brass "filler plug".