Interesting lead

[JDug]

 

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[jeff of pa]

the first one is unique

 

[JDug]

the first one is unique

I haven't got that one figured out. It reads like a bullet, it heavy like lead and it looks like lead.

 

[jeff of pa]

I wonder if it's an unfired Ball that needs the tab clipped before use

 

[VERMONTPACKRAT]

I think the "tab" that needs to be cut off the round ball would be called a sprue. I think I spelled it right............


VPR

 

[got2dig]

I wonder if it's an unfired Ball that needs the tab clipped before use

Yep, I think your right Jeff. Nice hunt JD.

 

[jeff of pa]

this is where my mind is wandering towards something in this line
only much older

 

[JDug]

Thanks guys, If it is a bullet it must be pretty rare because I can't find a single picture of 1.

 

[Wldbil]

Nice finds...

 

[JDug]

This is close.

 

[BosnMate]

You have a lead ball that was cast and lost before the sprue was cut off. When casting lead balls a person will pour a bunch before cutting the sprue off. This is because the fresh cast ball is plenty hot, and the mold also gets plenty hot, so you make up a bunch of balls, let them and the mold cool down and then cut the sprue. Some how or another that ball you found was lost before the sprue was cut off. In the photo, the ball mold would be a type used from the 1700's until today. I probably have more than one myself, among the various sizes of bullet molds I use. In the photo the balls between the handles still have the sprue on them, and the ones to the right have been cut using the cutter located on the mold.

 

[BosnMate]

This is a different style bullet mold, this one also dates to the civil war and the type is still made today. This one is a colt pistol mold and casts a conical bullet and a round ball in the same mold. What we are interested in is the sprue cutter. On this one the lead is poured in through the holes, then let to set up, which doesn't take long, then the plate on the top is tapped sideways, cutting the sprue off and leaving a flat place on the ball, where the previous mold in the other post leaves a pinched cut.

 

[jeff of pa]

Thanks guys, If it is a bullet it must be pretty rare because I can't find a single picture of 1.

I've found several over the years with the spru that looked like this




I have never found one with this shape piece connected.
so yes I'd guess a little rare, but not valuable rare just a Cool keeper rare IMO



if it's not from a pack like my pic above,

most likely as JDug's pic above says, Field Cast, your's probably was also
and probably in a hurry, causing it to be dropped & lost

 

[JDug]

Thanks for all your insight gentlemen.