Someone long ago had a very bad day!

[dts52]

I was working an area about 60 yards from an old cellar hole and came upon a small elevation overlooking a swamp. I thought to myself what a perfect place to sit and hunt. Then I found this. Octagonal barrel flintlock (note the touch hole on the side). I wonder whether the shooter was injured. My guess is mid-1800s? Any information is welcome. I can't locate any marks on the barrel. Would you folks suggest a vinegar bath or naval jelly?
HH
dts

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Upgraded Night Vision Monocular Digital Infrared Monocular Telescope for 100% Darkness with 8X Zoom - Grab it through Amazon!

[dts52]

Thanks for all the compliments as well as for all the laughs. Is there a connection between MDing and doing stupid (and dangerous) stuff as kids? I see a common thread here. Like when my older brother and I did NOT drop a 6" salute into a big Pepsi bottle and have the ensuing expolsion bury glass shards in the side of our house, right where we were standing!
HH
dts

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Upgraded Night Vision Monocular Digital Infrared Monocular Telescope for 100% Darkness with 8X Zoom - Grab it through Amazon!

[GB1]

We were "a handful" according to my parents. We used a laundry basket filled with heavy stuff as a counterweight to lock a babysitter in the bathroom one time while our parents all went christmas shopping. Tied it to the door knob and hung it over the stairs, then went about our business for 3 hours. Apparently she was quite traumatized from that and never talked to the family again.

man ya'll were bad

 

[dts52]

Kudos to you for knowing what this is! I would have filed it as iron junk. How did you know?

As soon as I dug it up, I noticed the octagonal shape and the tang on the end. I guess having owned a flintlock helped me recognize it. I have to think the shooter was hurt as the barrel burst probably not more than 18" from his face. I was surprised that I couldn't find any other pieces of the barrel or other metal from the weapon. I'm going back to search again...OR this accident happened somewhere else and the place where I found it is just where he happened to throw it away. I'll post any developments.
HH
dts

 

[AlienLifeForm]

I was beginning to think we were the only ones dumb enough to whack .22 rounds with a hammer when we were younger, but this thread says otherwise - I am in good company...

 

[Davers]

Thanks, relic nut and dirt looter. Think I'll try electrolisis. I also got my first flintlock (Thompson Center Arms 50 cal Hawken) in 1972. Certainly a challenge to hunt with that thing due to the long delay between the flint igniting the powder in the pan and the main charge going off. Scared the heck out of a number of deer! Never did get one with that thing. Everyone thought I was nuts... they were right!
HH
dts

Guess you have to 'lead' the Deer? Or ,&, Have a good guess on witch way it's going to Bolt.

Cool Find indeed.

 

[trapperart]

That would be a bad day congrats on the cool find

 

[Mzjavert]

You aren't kidding bad day.

 

[Tpmetal]

man ya'll were bad

Yes we certainly kept it interesting. Got a few more stories just as bad haha

 

[No gold in NY]

And people thought I was nuts for hang gliding.

 

[mk4125]

This post is being clouded by our questionable supervision. This piece is beyond cool and it should be up on that Banner.

 

[mk4125]

Banner vote in.

 

[dts52]

Thanks mk4125
dts