Question on a couple things

[tony (Orlando FL)]

Hope someone here knows WHY some percussion caps found around 1800's fort sites have got US stamped on the bottom and others dont. Were these special? Older, newer??? From never having found any with the US stamp, a tecting buddy and I are starting to find these in the same place the plain ones are found. Any help would be appreciated. In the pic I have a 22 rim fire case from the same area and it ALSO has US stamped on it

ALSO found this dog tag, maybe someone knows something about these tags and can fill me in. I sure dont find enough of these to tags so I have no idea at all what I have here. It was found at the same area as the items above.

Thanks for any insight.

Tony

 

[Carolina Phil]

I assume they may have used it on some of their percussion caps too. I have different sources which list slightly different dates of their existence. These dates are 1864, 1868 or 1869 as the founding of the company. I believe the later two dates to be the more accurate though, because a former General in the Union Army was one of the founders (the war wasn't over until 1865). Winchester-Western took full control of the company in either 1936 or 1938 (again, different sources, different dates).

Nice finds.

 

[tony (Orlando FL)]

Thanks Phil ! I never thought of US as the manufacturer of the items, just figured it meant US as the United States and left it at that. From NEVER finding any marked US in the past to finding several at two different sites 100 miles apart, just made me real curious.

I appreciate the reply.

Tony

 

[turtlefoot]

I agree with phil. I am still waiting for my first US headstamp.

Doug

 

[coloradocav]

There is a dog tag collectors club out there. I had posted a Denver dog tag a few years ago from the 1880's and a gentleman from the club offered me $200.00 for it! SOLD!. Funny thing is, I had this dog tag in a junk box for about three years! yours is also nice and old. If you want I can find the guys buisness card, he knows a lot. Does it have a City/State? Cool find by the way.

 

[tony (Orlando FL)]

Hey coloradocav, Thanks for the reply and offering to look up the collectors name. I also was contacted by a fella who offered to buy it and I got a little less than you. I got 176$ for it shipped. I also included a metal drivers license for 10 bucks. I have had the metal SC drivers license for a long time, kinda like your dog tag. This tag which I just found has been out of the ground 8 days now and already awaiting payment so it can be shipped to its new owner in MN.

This is a GREAT hobby aint it???

 

[coloradocav]

Great!! sometimes this hobby pays better than work! cool finds, go get some more!