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CW Era Minie Ball
- Thread starter chuckciao
- Start date
Hi, nice find!
That's what's known as a 'Williams' bullet and was used for scouring out the barrell from carbon deposits. Those 2 rings would have once had metal washers/bands around them. They are torn away on discharge.
There were several variations on size/calibre and shape etc.
If you have access to the Minelab X-Terra DVD they actually have a short clip where they dicuss and show a Williams bullet.
Hope that helps.
Danno.
That's what's known as a 'Williams' bullet and was used for scouring out the barrell from carbon deposits. Those 2 rings would have once had metal washers/bands around them. They are torn away on discharge.
There were several variations on size/calibre and shape etc.
If you have access to the Minelab X-Terra DVD they actually have a short clip where they dicuss and show a Williams bullet.
Hope that helps.
Danno.
Hate to bust a bubble here, but that is NOT a Williams cleaner. The Williams cleaner had the zinc disk on the base of it.....
Williams Cleaner Type III
Description Williams Cleaner Type III bullet - .58 caliber - Federal Bullet
Measures .574 diameter, .883 length, flat zinc insert base, paper wrapped cartridge.
.
Bullet was invented to help clean the bore of rifles from black powder fouling that built up from frequent firing. The zinc insert scraped the bore upon firing. Type III was issued in the later part of the war (1864) and is the most common recovered from Civil War sites by relic hunters. They were initially wrapped in blue paper and commonly issued one in ten cartridges. Some Union soldiers did not feel that they were accurate and would discard the Williams cartridges. Government switched from blue wrapper to buff colored. Testing did confirm that they were indeed accurate rounds. Many Confederate soldiers called them "poison" bullets. They believed that the zinc inserts would cause poisoning and accelerate gangrene in the bullet wounds.
Williams Cleaner Type III
Description Williams Cleaner Type III bullet - .58 caliber - Federal Bullet
Measures .574 diameter, .883 length, flat zinc insert base, paper wrapped cartridge.
.
Bullet was invented to help clean the bore of rifles from black powder fouling that built up from frequent firing. The zinc insert scraped the bore upon firing. Type III was issued in the later part of the war (1864) and is the most common recovered from Civil War sites by relic hunters. They were initially wrapped in blue paper and commonly issued one in ten cartridges. Some Union soldiers did not feel that they were accurate and would discard the Williams cartridges. Government switched from blue wrapper to buff colored. Testing did confirm that they were indeed accurate rounds. Many Confederate soldiers called them "poison" bullets. They believed that the zinc inserts would cause poisoning and accelerate gangrene in the bullet wounds.
Sorry to disagree, but I know a bit about this stuff. That IS a Williams bullet. As I mentioned, there were many variations on a basic concept. To clean a barrel from residue and carbon build up.
Yes, there was also a type with a zinc ring attached to the bottom of the bullet/projectile which is probably what you are referring to. The stuff about the blue paper and everything else is totally correct.
Oh, By the way, Chuck,
You can order the DVD through Minelab I believe. It's well worth a look. I got hold of an older release (when they sent them out free to anyone who requested an X-Terra brochure) I think they charge about $10.00 plus postage these days and it includes new footage and discussion on the 705.
Danno.
Yes, there was also a type with a zinc ring attached to the bottom of the bullet/projectile which is probably what you are referring to. The stuff about the blue paper and everything else is totally correct.
Oh, By the way, Chuck,
You can order the DVD through Minelab I believe. It's well worth a look. I got hold of an older release (when they sent them out free to anyone who requested an X-Terra brochure) I think they charge about $10.00 plus postage these days and it includes new footage and discussion on the 705.
Danno.
Chuck..I have dug a number of Williams cleaner bullets and I have never seen one like yours. I'm not saying it is not a Williams, but if it is I would say its is post CW. In fact I don't recall seeing a bullet quite like that before. I'm going to send a pic of the bullet to a friend in Richmond, Va. who is quite the expert on CW era bullets. HHTomB
TomB said:
Thanks Tom,
That is useful info. and I would appreciate hearing from you when your friend checks the bullet out. The Hanovarian 2 ringer is very interesting and I assume it is a German Bullet. Interestingly, Davenport, Iowa, where I found the bullet, was heavily populated with German Immigrants before the CW. Perhaps a German was out hunting and used ammo. from his native country.
Just speculation.
Thanks
Chuck