Models of shot bundles (grapeshot)

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A cannon could be loaded with a single cannonball or bundles of smaller projectiles, such as this ‘grapeshot’. Grapeshot consisted of a canvas bag filled with iron balls or metal slugs, tied together so that it resembled a bunch of grapes. It was used to hit living targets – horses and soldiers – at close range. The Dutch word for machine gun (mitrailleur) comes from the French term for grapeshot (boîte à mitraille).

c. 1750 - c. 1800

Wood (plant material)

NG-C-1995-68

Image and text courtesy of Rijksmuseum, 2019