A Surprise In Oak Ridge

[rbarnwell413]

Hunted a park that we've been to many time's in the past. It alway's produced silver and wheat's, but this week, a little different. Tuesday, I dug a pistol ball that was the first ever found there, as far as I know. Also, a square hook "thingy" close by it. And Friday, my friend Mark dug another which by it's odd size may be a buck from a "buck&ball" round. Shortly after that, I got this, a two ring .58 cal., that I believe is a Sharp's, but the extra deep cavity and ringed bottom have me guessing. Any thought's folk's?

 

[flyinryan2]

Awesome job, I think its a Gardener. I believe that's Confederate!

 

[duggap]

I've not spent any time around Oak Ridge but I have mapped some confederate activity in that area. Expand your area and see what else comes up. Should be a real nice confederate camp there abouts. Good luck.

 

[BosnMate]

That piece of iron might be a flint striker for starting flint and steel fires. It's the right shape, but I can't tell the size to be sure. Or it could have started like this one, and because they were hardened so they would make lots of hot sparks, sometimes they were brittle and broke. The steel fits in the hand like the photo, so your find would have to be approximately that size to be one.

 

[rbarnwell413]

Yes, it is about that size. That, I did not know about. Today, I learned something new...... Thx Bosn!!!

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

You bullet is definitely a Gardner minie... which is strictly Confederate-made. (The similar-named Gardiner is a strictly US-made explosive minie, but note the "i" in its name.)

 

[webatch]

Interesting finds... thx for the post rbarnwell.

I think it is very interesting reading these forums and finding out what others are finding and then what the items were and how they were used.

There seems to be a lot of knowledgeable contributors to this forum.

 

[rbarnwell413]

I agree webatch...... just wish I'd started coming here year's ago!! But..... I'm here now.

 

[debintn]

Great find, glad to know there are more hunters from Knoxville on TN...Cheers!

 

[rbarnwell413]

 

[treasurehound]

Nice finds Ralph. I missed this post earlier. Congrats on the gardner.