AN ODD BUNCH OF FINDS + Old Axe Head

[ModernMiner]

Yesterday after work, I headed to the 1830’s CW property again. I hunted about two hours until dark, and only worked a small area of the side yard. I decided to dig all iffy signals too this time (thanks Crusader), and did recover some great stuff that I normally may have passed up. I dug some oddball things too that I’m thinking may be a bit rare to find. Others I’m hoping are CW related.
I’ll be headed back on Saturday if the rain holds out.
Here’s my digs for Thursday. Any INFO or ID’s would be GREATLY appreciated.

*An old axe head. Not sure of the age, but I’m hoping it’s at least early 1900’s if not 1800’s.
Any idea of the age of this piece?

*A piece of lead shaped like a soldier on a horse. At first I thought it was just a piece of field/bullet lead. I didn’t notice what it was until I brought it home & rinsed it off.
It is made of soft lead, and the horse’s neck and head are thin, so I’m pretty sure it was not a factory made piece. I think it may have been handmade, and hopefully somewhat of a rare find. Could a CW soldier have carved this?

*Bullets: Asst’d bullets, one lead shot, and a “Peters Victor 20” (gauge) shotgun shell head. According to a website I found, this head stamp is circa 1887-1934!

*An old pin with the backing piece still on it.

*An old pin with decorative edge. I can’t quite make out the image in the center though.

*A misstruck old button with star like pattern. Very cool find I think. Too bad it wasn’t a mistruck coin.

*A 5-sided piece that may be a decoration of some sorts? Two clips on the back.
Any idea? CW?

*A round what’s-it that I’m hoping could have been part of a cannonball fuse. I am taking a wild stab with that guess, but it looks like it would have fit into a cannonball possibly. I have no idea though. Any guesses?

*An old wedding band that appears to be copper (?) yet is stamped “18K” inside. CW era I hope.
Any guesses?

*A small old decorative ring. Appears to be copper?

*A relic covered with rust. Looks interesting. There is a nice smooth metal inside as you can see, I am running it through electrolysis now, and will post an “after” picture if it is anything worth posting.

*Other relics: Pottery shards, piece of a spoon, toy play money. This play money gets me every time. Nothing like seeing a round coin in a hole, then realizing it is just pretend.

Thanks for looking & swing on!
-MM-

 

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[ModernMiner]

What an array of interesting items, Doug. See what happens when you dig those iffy signals?
That place must be loaded with targets.

Nice job,
CAPTN SE
Dan

Thanks Big Dan.
It is loaded with targets around the house. The signals that kill me are when I dig down about 18" and find a piece of a foil pan.
Thank God the soil is soft.
-Doug-

 

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[tymcmurray]

For the axe head you can check with these guys.
Good luck!

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=768

 

[B|lker]

Doug i think that your 18K may be real based on a 125 year old bracelet i found in Smithfield.
Here`s 2 pics and some dirt i dug up on old AU jewelry. I have the original web site link if you would like it.

The 1840s also saw the development of two techniques that would prove vitally important to the manufacture of inexpensive jewelry, which was beginning on a large scale in the U.S. and was already well under way in Birmingham, England. The first technique was electroplating, developed and patented in 1840 by the Elkingtons of Birmingham. The deposition of precious metal onto base metal using a direct electrical current was cheaper and much less dangerous than the age-old process of mercury gilding, though not as durable.

The second important process was rolled goldplating, brought to the U.S. from Great Britain in 1848. It was a big hit with New England jewelry manufacturers. Unlike electroplating, which is applied to a finished base metal article, rolled gold is a mechanical process for sheet and wire that is then used to manufacture a finished piece. The technique was derived from Sheffield plate, developed more than a century earlier, which is copper clad with silver and rolled to the desired thickness. Rolled gold is copper or brass clad with gold, also known as “gold-filled” in the United States. The metal “sandwich” was treated exactly the same as karat gold – stamped, engraved and fashioned into pieces that were identical in appearance to their solid gold counterparts. The French began to use the technique in the 1820s, calling it doublé d’or.

 

[texan connection]

Cool as shi.... MM. I cant belive you just started a yr or so ago. I have found some nice Hand forged axe heads but that one is really great looking.

 

[ModernMiner]

Doug i think that your 18K may be real based on a 125 year old bracelet i found in Smithfield.
Here`s 2 pics and some dirt i dug up on old AU jewelry. I have the original web site link if you would like it.

Bill,
Thank you for that very informative info. That will at least date this ring back into the mid 1800's, fake or not.
I am going to print that out & file it with this find. Very cool info!
Please send me that link when you get time.
-Doug-

 

[ModernMiner]

Cool as shi.... MM. I cant belive you just started a yr or so ago. I have found some nice Hand forged axe heads but that one is really great looking.

Thanks TC.
I dug this axe head up only about 10 feet from the old well. It wasn't even that deep either.
I hope I can find out the age of it. I have it in my relic cooker right now to get the rust off of it.
-MM-

 

[ModernMiner]

Well, I found a site with some axe heads that look very close to mine. They are circa 1900.
Here's the link:
http://www.antique-used-tools.com/misc._axeshatchets.htm
Heres a few pictures too. These suckers are priced at about $200-$300!!!
-MM-

 

[Gribnitz]

Re: AN ODD BUNCH OF FINDS - Some rare?

18K ring is a fake. During civil war they left the real ones at home with the love ones or sold a plated one as real gold.

Did they stamp them 18K back in the 1860's ? I found one much like that, but heavier. It is also stamped 18K, but is obviously brass or copper. At first I thought it was a modern day rip off, but the patina on it makes it look like it may have been in the ground a long time.

 

[mojjax]

Nice stuff ! Yup , here is a pic , they call them "Yankee" pattern . Factory-made . 1880 - 1910

I have one quite similar to yours .

mojjax

 

[TN-Joe]

MM
B-doo's mojo is awesome. Can I borrow a dress for next Christmas? ha-ha.
After looking at that round disk with no patttern I think I see a faint cameo. Look at it again.
Excelllent hunt.
Joe

 

[ModernMiner]

Re: AN ODD BUNCH OF FINDS - Some rare?

18K ring is a fake. During civil war they left the real ones at home with the love ones or sold a plated one as real gold.

Did they stamp them 18K back in the 1860's ? I found one much like that, but heavier. It is also stamped 18K, but is obviously brass or copper. At first I thought it was a modern day rip off, but the patina on it makes it look like it may have been in the ground a long time.

Gribnitz,
See B|lker's reply above. It looks like you do have an original mid 1800's piece there. Congrats.
-MM-

 

[ModernMiner]

Nice stuff ! Yup , here is a pic , they call them "Yankee" pattern . Factory-made . 1880 - 1910

I have one quite similar to yours .

mojjax

Mojjax,
Thanks so much for that info. Do you mind me asking what book you have there?
I knew this axe head was old when I dug it up.
Have a great w/end,
MM

 

[ModernMiner]

MM
B-doo's mojo is awesome. Can I borrow a dress for next Christmas? ha-ha.
After looking at that round disk with no patttern I think I see a faint cameo. Look at it again.
Excelllent hunt.
Joe

Alright Joe, we're holding you to that now. The dress is yours next Christmas. You may want to start picking out your lipstick & high heels now.
I've had an awesome December. Bdoo's mojo is MAGIC.
Thanks,
MM

 

[mojjax]

It's called "The Antique TOOL COLLECTOR'S Guide To Value" by Ronald S Barlow

another good book is " a MUSEUM of EARLY AMERICAN TOOLS " By Eric Sloane

 

[sniffer]

just goes to show you, if your not pulling up scrap aluminum, dig'em all. You never know what you'll find.
Great digs.

 

[BuckleBoy]

MM,

I brought this up--because I remembered you'd foud one of these too...

Check out my thread below, and your photo (sixth or so one down--it says "CW Badge" or something like that)...


I finally ID'ed it:


http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,118603.0.html



Regards,




Buckles

 

[ModernMiner]

MM,

I brought this up--because I remembered you'd foud one of these too...

Check out my thread below, and your photo (sixth or so one down--it says "CW Badge" or something like that)...


I finally ID'ed it:


http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,118603.0.html



Regards,




Buckles

BB,
You ROCK!!! Thanks so much for the ID. I think I have three or four of those so far. Very cool. Great picture of Sherman too.

-Doug-

 

[Colonial Copper Zeus]

Nice finds my friend. You keep chugging along with the goodies. Love the axe head. Lizzie Borden would have fawned over the craftsmanship.
Chris

 

[mikefromIllinois]

Ring stamped 18k does have some gold in it. I found one in my back yard last year. It's called rose gold. I seen one posted on another forum. You might bring up rose gold on your computer and see what you get.
Happy Hunting
Mike

 

[Roger Mn.]

18k gold rings will turn brown.Nice finds.