Historic definition of "Swan Shot"

[mancill]

So I have seen two different definition of swan shot. One is large shot like #2 to 0. The other is shot crudely made that had a shape like a swans head. Basically the drops falling a short distance into water before they could form a ball. So which is right?

 

[necchi]

I always figured it was the second, :idunno:

The other is shot crudely made that had a shape like a swans head. Basically the drops falling a short distance

 

[coloradoclyde]

That's what I've always called it...

I call the other stuff Buck shot.

 

[Capt. Jas.]

It is the former. The latter is very poorly formed Rupert shot.

 

[coloradoclyde]

I'm inclined to agree with you Capt.
Been calling it by the wrong name for so many years that it's hard to change.

 

[pargent]

Both actualy, swan shot mentioned in trade journals etc (early on ) referes to larger shot that is droplet shaped , formed by siving molten lead over a screen into water , cheaper to make then buying from a shot tower set up . :thumbsup:

 

[Capt. Jas.]

Would you know which journal that particular shot is termed swan shot?

 

[Artificer]

When I purchased Colonial Frontier Guns by T. M. Hamilton years ago, I bought it primarily as a source on Trade Guns. Since then; I have found it is a unique source on period flints, ball sizes, shot and other things including what we would call "GO" and "NO GO" gauges for bore diameters.

The sections on period "shot" would be great for more info on this subject.

Gus

 

[coloradoclyde]

Why not share an excerpt?

 

[Artificer]

Why not share an excerpt?

Well, I do not have a scanner to scan it into print and typing from the pages takes a LONG time for me.

Gus

 

[coloradoclyde]

Could you tell us what he said?
Swan or Rupert?

 

[Artificer]

Capt. Jas. is absolutely correct.

Page 130-2, direct quote:

"Before 1665 shot (As distinguished from swan and buckshot, which have always been cast in gang molds) was made by the laborious process of cutting sheet lead into cubes and then tumbling them in a barrel to more or less round off the corners."

Though the following chronological order for making what we today would call "bird shot" is taken from the book, it is not exactly as written. (Sorry, It is too hard to hold and read and type from a soft cover book to get that wording exact.) BTW, they also used the Drop Shot Technique to make Musket Balls.

Before 1665 - Tumbled Shot cut from sheet lead and then tumbled for rounded edges, though not completely round

1665 to 1769 - Rupert Shot, Ovoid/Heart shaped shot, often if not usually with a dimple in it

From 1769 - Drop Shot (from Drop Towers) which was very uniformly round

Calling "Tailed" shot or "tear drop shape" shot by the term "Swan Shot" is a MODERN Misinterpretation of the original 18th century documents. I first remember seeing it so incorrectly called "Swan Shot" in the 1970's, but don't remember if it was in Muzzle Blasts, Sketch Book '76 or some other publication. I do remember drawings being exaggerated to look more like a Swan than the more common Tear Drop or Tailed shape, though.

Gus

 

[coloradoclyde]

Thanks Gus.... :thumbsup: :hatsoff:

 

[Lonegun1894]

"Swan shot" was a specific size of shot, and cast in molds. I remember being told right here , and believe it was by Spence, that swan shot is around .250" or .260", so I have been using a #4 buckshot mold that casts .240" as a close replacement that does what I need.

 

[Artificer]

You are most welcome.
Gus

 

[mancill]

Thanks for the info.

 

[Artificer]

You are most welcome.
Gus

 

[coloradoclyde]

I made some cut shot awhile back and didn't like it.....I never thought of tumbling it to round it off some....
Very tedious though...

 

[Artificer]

In the pre 1665 period, I would have thought they might/would have cast the lead into small troughs that were rather long length, to save time over cutting lead cubes from lead sheets. A small stick, that would be drug through wet sand, could have made the troughs. Or a chisel could have easily done the same thing in soap stone.

I didn't know how much of a technological leap that Rupert shot was, until reading Colonial Frontier Guns, by Hamilton. There is a LOT of really neat period technical info in that book.

Gus

 

[coloradoclyde]

When I did it I sawed shallow lines in a board with a table saw, this made a mold that that produced roughly 1/8 inch square rods that I then cut with a small nippers.