I found this post Civil War pistol bullet today in my yard. I thought I had me a period bullet till I cleaned it up and saw the serations in the top ring of the bullet where the cartridge casing was crimped to it. I tried to use my calipers on it but the base is out of round. I would say it is in the range of .32 to .40 .
I believe it is fairly old due to the nice thick patina on it. Thanks for any info you can give me on this bullet.
"Whiskey - I like it, I always did, and that is the reason I never use it". Robert E. Lee
Spring 2012 CaneField Bandits Totals: TEN Half Reales:
1740, 1777, 1784, 1796, 1801, 180?, 1806, 1807, 1808, and 1814
1836 8 Reales
A 17?? One Real
1819 Token/Jeton
Two "Russian Blue" Trade Beads
Henry Clay Campaign Button, 1820s or 1830s FIVE Early New Orleans Seated Coins:
1838-O Dime (no stars), Two 1839-O Half Dimes, an 1840-O Dime, and an 1842-O Half Dime
1892 Barber Dime
1918 Walking Liberty Half
1866 and 18?? Shield Nickels, and some GawGag V's and Beefaloes. Military Relics: Possible Spanish Colonial Era Cap Badge
FOUR War of 1812 Artillery Buttons
1820s Pewter Militia "U.S." Button
CW Eagle Artillery Cuff Button
CW Eagle Infantry Officer's Coat Button
3-Ringers, Enfields, Musketballs, and Shell Fragments
Any relics, coins, or other items appearing in my finds posts were found on PRIVATE PROPERTY with total consent and permission from the owners of said property.
check the above listed site under bullets *-- the put 2 grooves and pistol in the indentifiers and look at the bullet that comes up --its noted as a "rim fire" a metallic cartridge like a modern 22 but this one was for a derringer made by CD Leets of springfeild, mass it was 40 cal -- time frame 1862 to 1887 thus its civil war war to post war.
Thanks Ivan, I believe you are right. I was looking at the other bullet on there. I have always been told that no Civil War bullet had serrations in there grooves from where the cartridge was attached till after the war,so I do need to look in to that,thanks again for putting me on the right track.
"Whiskey - I like it, I always did, and that is the reason I never use it". Robert E. Lee
I have a cool 32 cal smith and wesson rim fire bullet from a picket post area on the st marys river -- the guy pulled it and converted it into a fishing wieght ----its one of my favorites -- yes they had "rim fire" metal cartridge bullets during the war however their not a very common find -- mostly due to the faxct that 36 and 44 cal black powder cap and ball were much more common but there are some of the old early "rim fire" type bullets out there waiting to be found -- almost all pistol cartridge type bullets are thought of as post war by many but its not true.-- the C D LEET DERRINGER using a 40 cal rim fire bullet was made during the 1862 thru 1887 time frame --so its possibile war related if the was any war action in the area where it was found * --(1862 /1865)
however the ammo might have been made later on say the 1866 to 1887 time frame or even a bit later ( which could account for the crimp markings) --just because they stopped making the guns in 1887 --does not mean the ones they made where not used after then or that all ammo stopped being made for it right away.
civil war war or post war ?-- depends if the was any fighting in the area where it was found during the civil war years -- if not most likely--not war related or post war --that why you need to know the local area history* of where your hunting at. --research is the key ---Ivan
Ivan,I know there were metallic cartridges during the C.W. because like you I have found several,but the way they attached the cartridges to the bullet were different after the war. Here is a pic from one of my books called Handbook of Civil War bullets and Cartridges, by the Thomas brother's. If you look at my bullet at the top it was attached at the very top ring because you can see the serrations in the ring. In the photo in the book the cartridge was attached at the bottom leaving the 2 rings exposed. So that is why I believe it is a post war bullet.
"Whiskey - I like it, I always did, and that is the reason I never use it". Robert E. Lee
yes the lower pressure war black powder vs higher pressure (post war) powders -- the early blackpowder cartridge bullets were a rather loose fit -- the higher pressure powders (post war) "required" crimpingto "trap" the gases behind the bullet so as to not blow past the lead bullets as the pressure built up in the cartridge casing
due to the crimping factor -- very late war or post war made ammo is a good bet --do you think there was any war action at the spot where you found it--if not its most likely post war I'd guess.
There was a little skirmishing around several miles away,but I believe it is probable from when the town started settling here,around 1870's to 1880's.
"Whiskey - I like it, I always did, and that is the reason I never use it". Robert E. Lee
Early rimfire large caliber bullets were lubricated outside the case while modern bullets are lubricated inside the case. The early bullets will have very small lube rings while the later will have a much wider lube groove with a smaller crimping groove ahead of it. The .22 long rifle is an example of one of the few outside the case lubricated bullets still being used. Perhaps this will help? Monty
Don't make me loose the hounds! If you dig, Cover up your holes.
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