How I spent my Spring Break.........TEXAS RELICS!!!!

[Steve in PA]

As we all know, it's been a brutal winter. So I planned a digging trip to Texas as I try to do once a year, usually in late February or early March. I hook up with my good friend Bob Shelton when I go to Texas. I used to dig with Bob in the early 1990s when I lived in Texas, and we still keep in contact and try to get together and dig when we can.
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This year we got two days of digging in, March 13 and 14. The first picture shows my finds from both days with the first day on the left of the spoon. The first day was on a pre war military site that was in use through the Civil War, but most active in the 1850s. I have been to this site 5 or 6 times and have seen a couple of the .577 caliber "multi-ring" Sharps (also known as the Gomez and Mills patent) bullets dug there. Every trip I say I'm going to dig one and this trip my prediction came true. I dug not one, but two of these rare bullets! I also dug a few nice St. Louis Arsenal "tear drop" pistol bullets and 18 buttons. I have dug Dragoon and Rifleman's buttons at this site, but this time I only found General Service buttons, however a couple of them were the plain shield variety, which are rather scarce.
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Day two were went to a post war military/town site. This place can produce, military, civilian, and cowboy relics from the Civil War into the 1880. It can produce a heck of a lot of shell casings!!! Among the shell casings I did manage to dig a complete Henry cartridge, a few buttons including a Cavalry and an overcoat size Infantry. The best relic I dug on day two was a Texas star device that was used on the Hope saddle. They had brass ones on the saddle and pewter ones at the corners of the saddle blanket. Mine is a pewter one. This relic is considered CW period. I have included a couple pictures from a book on Texas Civil War Artifacts that goes into detail on the Hope saddle and it's hardware.
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One of the casings has a bullet jammed into it. We found a couple examples of this bullet, but we don't know what gun it's from. I believe the casing and bullet go together. Any help identifying the cartridge/gun would be appreciated.

 

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[F75PAHUNTER]

Love civil war relics, great job, Funny how that cactus grew pulling up all that stuff, LOL,,,

 

[frostdigger]

Nice finds!

 

[goldhungry]

Thems sum really nice finds Steve.

 

[jewelerguy]

super cool relics

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

Nice job Steve on those post-colonial finds. Looks like you guys had fun. Hopefully you can get out soon and dig some of the "old" stuff.

 

[The Rebel]

Killer finds! Is that shell from a Winchester 88?

 

[VOL1266-X]

That was a hunt to remember Steve. Lots of relics to add to your large collection. I need that cactus to keep Doug & Josh from stealing my buttons-LOL. Congratulations are in order for finds of that quality & quantity. HH, Q.

 

[Steve in PA]

Nice job Steve on those post-colonial finds. Looks like you guys had fun. Hopefully you can get out soon and dig some of the "old" stuff.

Bill, I was hoping to get out this weekend after some "earlier" relics, but once again Mother Nature seems to have other plans!

 

[Steve in PA]

Killer finds! Is that shell from a Winchester 88?

The intact cartridge is a Henry. I am wondering about the other casing with the bullet shoved in it.

 

[thrillathahunt]

Yep, those are Texas relics! Nice finds! I have always wondered why all the best stuff is in very close proximity to Cactus

 

[Rick (Nova Scotia)]

A great way to spend a vacation.
The cactus, if not "staged" is the coolest.

"mother nature" what a B ch she is.

 

[ModernMiner]

Steve,
Fantastic haul of relics there big guy. I'm dying to dig some CW relics again. Congrats.
That cactus is way cool.
-Doug-

 

[CMDiamonddawg]

Hi Steve , Outstanding CW hunt and relic finds esp'

The Hope saddle ,Texas Lone Star ,saddle blanket corner shields congrats on that piece it is one I never saw before , very Kool indeed ...

multi ring sharps an jammed cartraidge are interesting ,, yes , a nice hunt for sure !

 

[joeyfresh]

Nice pile of relics Steve! Looks like a great way spend a vacation.

 

[johnnyblaze]

Nice variety there Stevie boy

That saddle star is a sweet find..

Now wash that modern dirt off and get into that old PA Colonial dirt

Blaze

 

[Discrimination Dave]

Great finds. Being originally from Texas, I'm curious what GENERAL area you guys hunted. panhandle? Pecos? Easy Piney Woods? Central? Hill Country, Balcones? Again awesome finds. Love the saddle star.