As a starting point in determining a caliber choice for a rifle or musket of the mid 18th century I am offering the following list compiled by T.M. Hamilton of cast balls excavated on the site of Fort Michilimackinak. Mr. Hamilton took over the compilation of the raw data, which was primarily collected my John Mathay between 1959 and 1964. Before he could publish his findings Mr. Mathay, who's graduate studies were interrupted by the Vietnam War, became a casualty of that war. The fort falls under the umbrella of the Mackinac Island State Park Commission and, in 1976, T.M. Hamilton published the works of Mr. Mathay and others under the employ of the State Park Commission between 1965 1nd 1972 in his report Firearms on the Frontier: Guns at Fort Michilimackinac 1715-1781. Reports in Mackinac History and Archaeology, Number 5, Pendell Printing, Midland Michigan. 1976.
Fort M. was constructed in 1715 in the straits of Mackinaw in what is now Michigan by the French and stayed under their control until 1761. At that time it fell under British control and was supplied by them until 1781. During the whole of its existance the fort was a trade center for Indians and fur traders of that region.
The following is a list of the balls excavated:
BALLS [p.33]
There were a total of 488 undeformed balls recovered
Dia. in
inches Quantity Comments
.48 2
.49 0
.50 3
.51 6
.52 11
.53 9
.54 21 32 to the livre
.55 47
.56 69 28 to the livre
.57 84 "Calibre 32" bore
.58 65 25 to the livre
.59 44 "Calibre 28" bore
.60 14
.61 15
.62 9
.63 2 20 to the livre (French musketoon ball?)
.64 1
.65 2 18 to the livre (French Infantry ball)
.66 2
.67 1 French musketoon bore, 16.7mm
.68 13 French Dragoon bore, 17.1mm
.69 25 French Infantry bore, 17.5mm
.70 0 English Infantry ball
.71 0
.72 0
.73 1
.74 0
.75 0 English Infantry Bore
Total 488
(Note: 1 livre = 1.08 pounds, Charlie P.)
Me again. Since the balls lying around are only circumstantial evidence of what flrearms, smooth or rifled, may have been used to project them it is impossible to make definate statements of the actual shoulder arms used in that region of the Great Lakes. I do find it startling that what we would consider the military size calibers are not better represented, and those of .52 to .62 represent the majority of all finds.
Fort M. was constructed in 1715 in the straits of Mackinaw in what is now Michigan by the French and stayed under their control until 1761. At that time it fell under British control and was supplied by them until 1781. During the whole of its existance the fort was a trade center for Indians and fur traders of that region.
The following is a list of the balls excavated:
BALLS [p.33]
There were a total of 488 undeformed balls recovered
Dia. in
inches Quantity Comments
.48 2
.49 0
.50 3
.51 6
.52 11
.53 9
.54 21 32 to the livre
.55 47
.56 69 28 to the livre
.57 84 "Calibre 32" bore
.58 65 25 to the livre
.59 44 "Calibre 28" bore
.60 14
.61 15
.62 9
.63 2 20 to the livre (French musketoon ball?)
.64 1
.65 2 18 to the livre (French Infantry ball)
.66 2
.67 1 French musketoon bore, 16.7mm
.68 13 French Dragoon bore, 17.1mm
.69 25 French Infantry bore, 17.5mm
.70 0 English Infantry ball
.71 0
.72 0
.73 1
.74 0
.75 0 English Infantry Bore
Total 488
(Note: 1 livre = 1.08 pounds, Charlie P.)
Me again. Since the balls lying around are only circumstantial evidence of what flrearms, smooth or rifled, may have been used to project them it is impossible to make definate statements of the actual shoulder arms used in that region of the Great Lakes. I do find it startling that what we would consider the military size calibers are not better represented, and those of .52 to .62 represent the majority of all finds.
