🥇 BANNER Intact James Shell...Never In My Wildest Dreams!

[garren]

I would have never dreamed I would get an intact James shell from a hay field 16" deep with a 5X8 coil. I can't believe I found an artillery shell, period!

I also found a round iron ball nearby. I guess its safe to say it's grape shot given this location?

I have a few questions...Its hard researching from a hotel and I cant go cleaning on this shell here.

Will this have a fuse? or is there a James with a solid nose?
I was under the impression that all James' had to be drilled to make them inert. Are any solid?
Was the James Confederate, Union or both?



**Updating - Nov 2016 with a pic of the finished shell.

 

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[Wildcat1750]

Awesome find!!! I'd be careful with it until you get answers to those questions.

 

[garren]

Ok I've managed to answer all of my questions...Its Union...I rubbed off some dirt and there is a fuse...so It will have to be drilled.

 

[Gitschlag]

Outstanding! They had both types, shell and solid shot. Until you determine which that is, I would tread lightly with it! Also looks like a cannister or grape shot that ya got there.

 

[A2coins]

Wow that is sweet don't try to carry that on a plane LOL!!!!Thanks for sharing!!!

 

[trapperart]

Congrats on the shell

 

[Trezurehunter]

What a great find. Congrats.

 

[JBnNC]

Beautiful shell, congrats!

 

[Mach1Pilot]

Nice shell!

 

[etex]

Banner Find Congrats

 

[Gitschlag]

I must admit, I am very jealous of your find . An intact James shell has been on my list for a LONG time, and the closest I have come to finding one so far was this large fragment from the base. Another member from WV found two in one day, and made it on the banner. However, it was taken off the banner after he removed his pictures. A find like this is banner worthy to me, but not everyone gets as excited about rusted chunks of metal as I do .

 

[ucvrelics.com]

Congrats on a GREAT shell find. There are several people who can dewat it but I have always done them myself. I have done over 50 and I'm still here typing with all 10 fingers. I drill them while under water and start with an 1/8 inch bit and go real slow, then step it up to a 1/2 inch hole. The best way for the James is thru the bottom but you will need the long drill bits to do it from the base. Then electrolysis and you should have a very nice piece.

 

[garren]

Congrats on a GREAT shell find. There are several people who can dewat it but I have always done them myself. I have done over 50 and I'm still here typing with all 10 fingers. I drill them while under water and start with an 1/8 inch bit and go real slow, then step it up to a 1/2 inch hole. The best way for the James is thru the bottom but you will need the long drill bits to do it from the base. Then electrolysis and you should have a very nice piece.

Thanks ucvrelics. I sure wish you lived closer...I would let you drill this one! Ive seen the youtube videos and read the websites and I know they are, for the most part, fairly safe...but I just can bring myself to drill it by hand. I think I will throw together a remote setup. If I don't check in on here for a few days you'll know something went wrong.

 

[garren]

I must admit, I am very jealous of your find . An intact James shell has been on my list for a LONG time, and the closest I have come to finding one so far was this large fragment from the base. Another member from WV found two in one day, and made it on the banner. However, it was taken off the banner after he removed his pictures. A find like this is banner worthy to me, but not everyone gets as excited about rusted chunks of metal as I do .

I would have been stoked to find a fragment the size of yours! I didn't really get the chance to work my way up to an intact shell. I've only hunted CW relics a handful of times. A few bullets, buttons and a one possible fragment. Then bam! to find a whole James? Feels like I'm cheating somehow. I'll take it!

 

[GaRebel1861]

Wow! What an awesome find!

 

[ScubaDetector]

Love it. Makes you a bit humble to know that because it didn't explode, some lives were possibly spared at least then. Maybe those that were spared got through the war unscathed. Pretty dark reminder of a useless war.

However with that being said and you can't undo history it is an awesome piece of the USA's darkest period. Thanks so much for sharing.

I sure hope this post comes across as positive to all.

 

[Jacobsdt]

That is cool, nice job.!

 

[coinman123]

A bucket lister me for me! Awesome piece of history!

 

[garren]

Rendered inert! My step-dad has balls big enough to come in a dump truck...he followed ucvrelics instructions and drilled it....I took the dog and went to the neighbors.

I'm no expert but I think this is going to clean up very nicely...next step: electrolysis.

 

[relic nut]

Congrats on a great find!!! My vote is in. I found a 6# Cannonball once with the 5x8 at 18 inches. Check that ground good and dig every deep iffy signal. There may be more. Congratulations again [emoji106] [emoji106]

HH RN