End section of a Revolutionary War Bar Shot from Lake Champlain

This is another nice early piece coming out of a 60-year collection of Revolutionary War/French & Indian War, and War of 1812 artillery. Being offered is the end ball from a Revolutionary War Bar Shot. It is a 4-pounder and has a 3.05” diameter and weighs 3 pounds, 13 ounces. It was recovered at Lake Champlain, NY.

Bar Shot was fired from a cannon, this one would have come out of a 4-pounder. They were used both on land and on sea. The round was principally designed for naval warfare where the spinning balls would rip through the enemy ships masts and rigging, leaving them dead in the water and an easy target. When used against ground troops the damage was devastating.

Between 1664 and 1763, the Champlain Valley witnessed a continuous struggle between the French and British Empires for control of Lake Champlain and its tributaries. These water routes were strategic highways that provided access into the interior of the Northeast in a period when the only viable means of transportation over rugged land was by water.

Expeditions and forts were continually raised in defense of rival claims of the Champlain Valley and its waterways. Armies and war parties transported themselves on Lake Champlain in fleets of canoes, bateaux, rondeaux, row galleys, schooners, and sloops – the remains of many of these vessels now remain on the lake’s bottom.

This is a very interesting relic. You can see where the ball broke away from the connecting rod. There is an underwater photograph of a very similar ball embedded in the side of a ship (see pictures).

This collection began in the late 1950s and was created by private acquisitions, closed museums, diggers, and from lake divers. The collector meticulously displayed and cataloged every piece along with its provenance. Many of the pieces went through electrolysis to remove crusted rust.

This is the first time this cannonball has been on the open market, and it is truly a great piece of early American History. It definitely merits a place in an advanced collection or museum. As with all the pieces in this esteemed collection, a Certificate of Authenticity will be included. It comes in the acrylic display case pictured. Also, as with all the items on the website, a very friendly layaway is available.