Find by a student of mine

[scottrainey]

Hi, new member here.

I'm a middle school teacher in Washington State, in a community along the Columbia River across from Portland, Oregon. Our town is the site of a Lewis and Clark campsite, Cottonwood Beach.

A couple days ago, a student of mine found some small objects, apparently made out of lead, in the sand at Cottonwood. Unable to identify them, I thought I'd post photos here and see what you all might know.

(I don't pretend to think they are possibly from the Lewis and Clark camp, but I'm still at a loss as to what they might be). Any thoughts? Lead fishing weights, perhaps?

 

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[PullTabProphet]

The picture is a little rough. Not a crisp image but, it looks like he may have found some musket balls?

 

[scottrainey]

When he comes back to class, I'll try to take a better photo of them. Musket balls would be quite cool. I've told him to check with the curator at our local museum as well.

 

[The Urban Prospector]

They look like lead fishing sinkers to me. Kinda see the line where the weight opens. I have dug thousands of those little turkeys. They sound just like gold.

 

[CRUSADER]

Can't see for sure but they are too small for Musket Balls so I'm going with Pistol Shot (Balls).

 

[gtoast99]

Be careful. This day and age, he'll probably get expelled for bringing "bullets" to school. Zero tolerance and all that.

 

[scottrainey]

Here's a (hopefully) better photo. I've looked at them closely, and cannot see any lines on them for fishing line.

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

The smallest one might be split shot fishing weight but don't see any evidence of the other three being split shot.

 

[unclemac]

pretty small ...small enough for triple ought buckshot?

 

[Vino]

Here's a (hopefully) better photo. I've looked at them closely, and cannot see any lines on them for fishing line.<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1106356"/>

Definitely not split shots..They are from a flint lock pistol. .Very cool..
Could be from Lewis and Clark? ?
Never know?? Lol.
Nice to see young people getting involved in the hobby..
George

 

[DonDigger]

Top right ball appears to have been shot in a rifled pistol. Ball has been swagged and rifling is visible on the ball when the image is blown up. Probably cap-n-ball revolver.

 

[CRUSADER]

Here's a (hopefully) better photo. I've looked at them closely, and cannot see any lines on them for fishing line.View attachment 1106356

You're not wrong, I gave similar to a school kid & that did happen. They got in trouble!

 

[gunsil]

Definitely not split shots..They are from a flint lock pistol. .Very cool..
Could be from Lewis and Clark? ?
Never know?? Lol.
Nice to see young people getting involved in the hobby..
George

How can you say they are from a flintlock pistol?? They are awfully small for flintlock pistols, except maybe for ladies' muff pistols. They could just as easily come from a percussion pistol, or even a squirrel rifle. The larger ones could have been intended for a deer rifle. No telling the age or actual use of old round balls, they were used for too long a period of time in too many different firearms.

 

[Vino]

How can you say they are from a flintlock pistol?? They are awfully small for flintlock pistols, except maybe for ladies' muff pistols. They could just as easily come from a percussion pistol, or even a squirrel rifle. The larger ones could have been intended for a deer rifle. No telling the age or actual use of old round balls, they were used for too long a period of time in too many different firearms.

Thanks for the correction. .I was only really saying was they are not split shots..
And its all about the kids anyway..
George

 

[Tnmountains]

Very cool find. It is ammo for sure. Here is some small lead balls with sprues from what they called buck and ball. Three small balls and a .69 cal round ball were loaded. To be honest back then they would sometimes pack a musket or pistol with what they had or for what they were hunting. This is for comparison.Its close.

 

[Tnmountains]

You can tell your were water finds due to the lack of patina. Lead comes out of the river pretty clean.

 

[scottrainey]

Thanks so much to everyone for your input! I've got a call in to the Oregon Historical Society in Portland. The kid let me borrow them and I'm going to take them over there this weekend and see what they say.

I teach US History, and am really glad that this kid found what he did - this is, literally, the first time all year he's been excited about something related to history. He's a bright kid, but really lazy in school. This seemed to light a fire under him. He came in before school to show them to me. Here's to hoping the enthusiasm sticks!

 

[Professor of Engineering]

I also believe they are a type of ammo. The pour hole is evident and appears to have the correct patina.

 

[mnixon]

Dang ... I wish I woulda had a teacher that let us metal detect in class .... Hope this will keep him inspired

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

In the first picture the OP put up the small one looked to have the pinch apart to open weights but after he put the other pic up I do not see that. I put the pic of the split shot weights up for a comparison not an I.D.