CW BRASS CAP/COVER??

[1dirtyknee]

Found half a dozen of these mudlarking in the Potomac River. Not sure of age or purpose. I have seen other relic cases for sale with these included, but never a good explanation of what they are.

Help would be great!
1dk

[Comanche Todd]

looks like a thimble? used for mending a soldier's uniform?



here's an old thimble, but yours looks like it might be too shallow to be a thimble?

[1dirtyknee]

Not sure. Not as deep as a thimble. I tried to put on my finger, it just fell off.

1dk

[nhbenz]

Sorta' looks like an axle cap for an old radio flyer wagon.

[downindixie]

looks like the cap part of an inner tube repair kit.The raised part was used to scuff the tube up before applying adhesive and patch.

[trk5capt]

Could Be Kepi Vents, Do The Holes Go All The Way Through The Metal ? trk5capt...

[1dirtyknee]

No holes in it. Just the checkering on the one side.
1dk

[relic lover]

looks like the cap part of an inner tube repair kit.The raised part was used to scuff the tube up before applying adhesive and patch.

That was my first thought as well, but brass? maybe it scuffed something else cw related

[jeff of pa]

I have to agree with nhbenz

[Montana Jim]

Sorta' looks like an axle cap for an old radio flyer wagon.

Just sharing a cool site here: http://www.radioflyer.com/history/heritage.html

[1dirtyknee]

I found something that looks very similar on a CW relic site. Unfortunatley the seller identified it as an unknown brass cap or lid....not much help, but his did come from the Chancellorsville battle field. It is shown in the top center of the photo. Does it look the same to you folks?
1dk

[Montana Jim]

Yeap... I agree that it looks "similar, very similar".

[THing4CSA]

Hi All My TH'ing Friends
Going back to what was originally suggested; could this be a muzzle cover for a rifle? I have two that were made by pounding a 58 Cal three ringer into a plug for a rifle. I found both of mine in a Civil War encampment in Leesburg VA.
Thanks
Dave Mork
'Digger-Dave'
THing4CSA
PS: Remember; Don't leave it in the ground!

[Charlie P. (NY)]

I'm voting with DowninDixie - part of an innertube repair kit. Seems I've used that very thing as a kid. Came immediately to mine before I even saw his response. Put your inder finger in the cup and scuff the rubber so the cement sticks better.

Doubt it would be a tampion (muzzle cover). All I've seen have been wood or are wood for the portion that enters the barrel, and are split so they grip but not tightly.

[THing4CSA]

Hi All My TH'ing Friends
I must disagree with the comments about all muzzle covers being wood. I have two that were field made and fit the muzzle of a 58 Cal rifle barrel.
Thanks
Dave Mork
'Digger-Dave'
THing4CSA
PS: Remember; Don't leave it in the ground!

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Hi All My TH'ing Friends
I must disagree with the comments about all muzzle covers being wood. I have two that were field made and fit the muzzle of a 58 Cal rifle barrel.
Thanks
Dave Mork
'Digger-Dave'
THing4CSA
PS: Remember; Don't leave it in the ground!

Read it again.

All I've seen have been wood or are wood for the portion that enters the barrel[/b], and are split so they grip but not tightly.

I seldon speak or write in absolutes.

Now I've seen two objects that may have been field-fashioned tampions (or game pieces). The base would already fit the muzzle as the Miniè is a loose but close fit to begin with. I have fired enough muzzleloaders to know that you don't want to fire one with a heavy obstruction at the muzzle. That can make a rifle a hand grenade. So if those are loose enough fits that they would fall out of their own as the rifle is leveled or the flange is wide enough that they are obvious to the shooter he still has a capped muzzle they may well be what you say. We all know what is issued is often different from what is used in the field, and issued small items are easily lost.

[Monty]

If it's steel I would say an axle end cover as mentioned. If brass I would be more likely to agree on it being a civil war piece. How's that for straddling the fence? Monty