Fled the frozen tundra of Pennslyvania for West Virginia CW Relics

[Steve in PA]

With our fields covered with a couple inches of snow and the ground frozen even deeper, we had no option but to head south if we wanted to dig this weekend. Sunday looked like the best day to drive down there, based on the weather forecasts. It was 10 degrees when we left Pennsylvania and 33 when we arrived in West Virginia 3 hours later. The day continued improve as we hunted some Yankee cavalry positions from a large skirmish that occurred in late August 1864. I have hunted this particular property many times over the years and it is littered with Spencer casings and the occasional complete Spencer cartridge. Confederate artillery frags turn up fairly regularly along with other items lost in the heat of battle. For some reason there are no fired Confederate bullets among the Spencer casings. The old property owner, a WWII veteran, passed away a couple years ago. His son in law who lives next door, volunteered to cut some passes through the thick brush with his front end loader. I think he was having as much fun as we were We were ready to quit before he was!!

Anyway, it was more of the same with lot's of Spencer casings. My best find was a New York button. Tom dug a nice intact Spencer cartridge. The first pic is Tom and my finds together, with my finds below the crude iron spike. The pic with my finds cleaned has a Spencer where I married the bullet and casing together. The last pic is a WWII relic the old vet brought home from the war. It was laying on the cement where one of his outbuildings once stood.

 

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[BuckleBoy]

wow. Unexploded grenades are serious stuff. Was it a practice grenade?

By the way, great that you are finding some complete Spencers. They are getting hard to find with the casing intact. Well done!

 

[TreasurDiggrNY]

Nice haul, Love the NY button it's a beauty Steve

 

[John Boy]

Really like that button and nice assortment of relics.congrats

 

[Steve in PA]

wow. Unexploded grenades are serious stuff. Was it a practice grenade?

By the way, great that you are finding some complete Spencers. They are getting hard to find with the casing intact. Well done!

I really don't know whether it was a practice grenade, disarmed, or not. There was no pin or handle, and the bottom looked to be hollow and full of dirt. I didn't want to mess with it and left it lay where it was. The property owner was the one who showed it to us.

 

[VOL1266-X]

Great finds Steve!! That's a really nice NY button. Good assortment of relics. We don't have Spencers in the camps we hunt and the only bullets with complete cartridges we dig are Pin Fires. WTG & HH, Quindy.

 

[JmCraz8]

Awesome finds but I think i would've left that grenade there lol and probably stay away a good 100 meters, congrats on the finds!!

 

[hdmech71]

Very cool. Nice button and the gernade is awesome.

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

Looks like you were busy digging brass Steve. At a site like that you just never know what might pop out. Nice NY button BTW!

 

[flyinryan2]

Nice finds Steve!!! I dug a few Spencer casings today but no Complete. I also matched up a few of my good round casings with some nice bullets, its great for display!

 

[matt092079]

Nice job, Steve! I have only found 1 complete spencer. Came close on some others. I found my complete one in a plowed field of all places. Congrats again.

 

[artyfacts]

Great stuff Steve. Thanks for marrying the spencer, nicely shaped round. That is one sweet button.

 

[pong12211]

Great finds.. I don't blame you I would have left that gernade alone too.. Just goes to show you... You never know what your going to find maybe even a gernade.. Thanks for sharing..

 

[wheatfinder13]

Cool grenade

 

[allen]

Good job on those great looking CW relics!