BULLET GURUS AND WIZARDS NEEDED

[Anonymous]

to help ID dropped CW era lead.. The only one I know for sure is the lead poker chip at the bottom. The rest DUH????

 

[Anonymous]

I might be wrong, but I think the very bottom left one is a confederate cap/cartridge box finial for keeping the flap closed. I'm not to up on the bullet category..Sorry.........Aaron

 

[Anonymous]

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[Anonymous]

1st row, item 1 looks like a carved williams cleaner bullet the plunger ans zinc washer went in hole in base.
item 2, looks like 58 cal minie three ringer.
item 3, 69 cal minie three ringer.
item 4, Richmond CS laboratory, 58 cal "gardiner. confederate definitely, they stop production before end of war in 1865.
item 5, same as item 2.
2nd row, item 1 and 2, are "tie tail" sharps variations for carbines and muskets. Combustible paper tube containing black powder was tied to ring at base of bullet to provide fixed cartridge to speed in loading.
item 3, 4 and 5 look like maybe 45 - 70 cal cartridge type bullets. trapdoor springfield.
Row 3, item 1 maybe a 50- 70 cal cartridge type.?
item 2 and 3, 36 cal pistol bullet.
item 4 and 5, 44 cal pistol bullets.
Last row, I agree with finial from air bear. type used on percussion cap box for muzzle loaders.
Big ball is 69 cal or larger for early muskets 1842 and older.
Cone shaped is what we call sugar loaf bullets for muzzle loading civilian rifles probably around 44 cal. fired with a cloth or thin buckskin patch.
Small round ball is probably same cal as sugarloaf, some early mold cast one of each type.
Last one smashed for poker chip.
Hunt slow and easy your on a good spot. That CS gardiner and tie tails might produce some southern Brass for you.
5forksVa

 

[Anonymous]

5forksVA and airbear77 did a good job on their assessment of your relics. The CS Gardner contracts were canceled in 1864 due to the "inconsistent sizes (caliber) and the mess they made in the men's cartridge boxes." During warm, hot weather, the bullet lube would melt, soaking the cartridge paper that was attached to the bottom of the Gardner bullet, thus breaking at the juncture and spilling powder inside the cartridge box. Mixed with the wet lube, the powder became a real mess. Some Gardner's would not fit the bore, while other Gardner bullets would fall down the barrel. These were replaced by the Enfield style bullet "which we are now able to manufacture in sufficient quantities." These are quotes from an Ordinance Officers report to the CS Gov't. The "finial" appears to be made of white metal; pewter? If so, it is Confederate and would be for a bayonet scabbard tip. However, there is a bullet somewhere in the back of my mind that is similar. I'll have to see if I can find mention/pic of it. The 45/70 Gov't "Trap Door Springfield" was invented in 1863. However, the US powers that be, didn't want to buy it. They felt it would be to easy to load and fire with great rapidity. Thus, the men wouldn't take careful aim and they would waste a lot of ammunition... <img src="/metal/html/lol.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=":lol"> Were they ever wrong. The 45/70 was adapted by the US Gov't in 1866. I have only found one fired 45/70 bullet and this came from a Union campsite. The US Army remained in middle Tennessee after the war for about a year, to quell any unrest. Hard to say when the round was fired. Nice finds kidcentavo. David @ Dixie

 

[Anonymous]

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[Anonymous]

your next find be a JEB STUART button with a complete shank, and full gilt, nice and puffy with NO pushes in it...