Whitworth??

[Anothercan]

Found in New Orleans. Looks like a whitworth but appears and feels totally round with no real flat sides. Also found a few that have the same rear diameter but are 1/2 in shorter?

 

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[smokeythecat]

True Whitworths will NOT have a dot in the base at the center. Let us know.

 

[Anothercan]

Took a bit to get the mud out. There is a dot at base in center so if not whitworth then what?

 

[smokeythecat]

According to my book, "A Handbook of Civil War Bullets and Cartridges", while they were once thought to be Whitworths, the powers tht be now say they are .45-70 rounds. They were used after the Civil War. Lots of the 1870's rifles had this caliber. Very similar to Whitworth's however. Still very nice finds.

 

[DirtyMike&Tab]

According to my book, "A Handbook of Civil War Bullets and Cartridges", while they were once thought to be Whitworths, the powers tht be now say they are .45-70 rounds. They were used after the Civil War. Lots of the 1870's rifles had this caliber. Very similar to Whitworth's however. Still very nice finds.

That's my thoughts too. Any military items being found there? Not that it changes much but just curious.

 

[Anothercan]

Just bullets, buttons, tent tensioners, and small brass items. We are less than 1000 yards from the remnants of a civil war fortification,not that means anything with all the trash people drop around this city. Thanks for the information. Just curious but I can not find any thing that shows a similar picture of a 45-70 that looks anything like these. Ordered the book off of amazon hand book of civil war bullet cartridges.

 

[Spats]

It is likely that your tent rope tensioners are post-civil war also. Many have been found in civil war sites (I have found three), but they have been proven to be post-war.

 

[niffler]

The 45-70 bullets were made for the military in both 450 grains and 500 grains. I have found quite a few of the 450 grain variety, and they have 3 rings near the base, and the base is indented. The 500 grain I have found were smooth with a solid base.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Niffler is correct, those are not .45-70 bullets. The "Handbook Of Civil War Bullets & Cartridges" says these "Whitworth imposters" are actually for a post-civil-war "Buffalo Sharps" Rifle (like Quiqley used in the movie "Quigley Down Under"). Look on the far right side of the 1875 advertisement, attached below.