4 hour hunt at Colonial Grist Mill

[The Patriot]

Well managed to squeeze a short hunt in before the snow flies...not a lot but I'll take what I can get...

I must be a lead magnet as I always seem to come up with a lot of musketballs where ever I go..



Also manage piece of a ramrod



what's left a silver spoon with makers mark SA on it and a neat design...



candle stick holder...



Group shot with pewter spoon handles, buttons buckles..........Managed 3 pretty toasty coppers, all 3 are 1700's and one is a counterfeit...

 

[johnnyi]

Another thing I just noticed is the "dot" between S and A. I found that Stephen Adams I used this mark. Stephen Adams II used the mark without the dot...I think that is pretty conclusive.

Good eye romeo, and it adds force to your argument. I don't think it is conclusive yet though, particularly considering the slant of the "A", the shape of the cartouche, and the following:

Seymour Weyler litterally "wrote the book" on silver marks back in the 30's, and he lists both Stephen Adams and Stephen Adams Jr.. Neither of these does he list with the dot. (evidently their work does exist with a dot sometimes, as you've shown) .He does list many other marks of other makers with dots when they always occur. All this says I guess is that these particular dots were arbitrary with both these makers, and by extension, we have no way of knowing whether or not they were arbitrary with Samuel Avery's mark also. In other words it may also exist with or without a dot if we are to depend on Weyler.

I agree with you and curious george that the handle should be cleaned so we can see if that is a lion within a shield. That would be conclusive that this was not Avery's mark. For anyone wondering why we're spending time on this, it is because early American silversmith's work is usually much more scarce and historic than English work of the same period.

p.s. Just to clarify, Stephen Adams Jr. didn't use a mark within a rectangle. It was a rectangle with diamond (pointed) ends.

 

[The Patriot]

Here's the close up...

 

[johnnyi]

Ah! Good eye Romeo! (and good i.d.!) You were right, it is English, not early American, and you were spot on about the lion. I guess it doesn't hurt to play devil''s advocate when there's a chance of an early American relic, as we at least learn some stuff. Once again, great i.d.

 

[WhiteHunter]

intresting finds, i like the box you keep your musket balls in

 

[CRUSADER]

Here's the close up...

I thought I saw part of the hallmark at the broken stem

 

[romeo-1]

A good find is one that generates interest, research and conversation...this definately qualifies!