Our featured treasure for July is a small but extremely deadly item used by the Spanish and often found on 1715 Fleet wreck sites. Used in close combat, the split shot was an early form of anti-personnel projectile. Made of lead, the split shot looks like a musket ball that has been cut in half and wired together, as seen in the picture above. The difference is that the effect of the split shot is far more devastating than a regular musket ball. When fired from a musket the two halves would separate and then spin rapidly and like a buzz saw cut deep into the unfortunate recipient.
Another feature of the spilt shot, which distinguishes it from a normal singular musket ball, is the weight. An individual lead musket ball weighs an average of 33 grams. The average split shot has a combined weight well over 50 grams, not including the wire that joins the two pieces together.
Our Treasure of the Month is special in that it is completely intact, meaning that the wire that once held the two halves together is still in place. It was recovered at the Cabin Wreck site by Lou UllianLouis J. (Lou) Ullian (1932 – 2010) Was a diver and original member of the Real Eight Company. A native of Worcester, Massachusetts he served in the U.S. Navy, Naval Weapons Station from 1956 – 19... of the Real Eight CompanyAlso referred to occasionally as “The Real 8 Company”- was incorporated in 1961. It had eight members….Kip Wagner, Kip Kelso, Dan Thompson, Harry Cannon, Lou Ullian, Del Long, Erv Taylor and Lis... in 1964.
For more information regarding weaponry of the Spanish see Noel Wells, Small Arms of the Spanish Treasure Fleets, (Dallas: Rock Bottom Publications, 2006).
