Any ideas on this piece of Lead

[ArDirtSlinger]

As u can see the hole doesn't go all the way through
The dents in the square end go all the way around
Could be a pencil but I'm not sure

What do y'all think??

 

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[Back-of-the-boat]

Looks like rodents been chewing on it.

 

[ArDirtSlinger]

Don't think it was rodents. This from our rodents
.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Lead oxide is sweet (don't recommend you taste it but the Romans did use it aw a sweetener).

As far as what it might be? Looks like a square or rectangular hole. Protective cover for leather awl or punch?

If you have something like this ("colonial era stitching awl) in your haversack without a cover you're likely to jab yourself badly. One end would typically be driven into a wood dowel or bit of antler for a handle.

Just a WAG based on size and shape.

 

[Prairie Prowler]

Lead is found in so many Odd shapes..it was remelted .hammered..bent .. used for different stuff its almost impossible to ID some of these found items..this does seem to be a cap or plug for something.,what type of site was it found at.?

 

[ArDirtSlinger]

Lead is found in so many Odd shapes..it was remelted .hammered..bent .. used for different stuff its almost impossible to ID some of these found items..this does seem to be a cap or plug for something.,what type of site was it found at.?

It was found at a CW era campsite, presumably Confederate 1862

 

[DCMatt]

It is a soldier-made pencil. Made from a minie ball.

That is an awesome find!!!

 

[DCMatt]

I actually made one of these a few years ago from a ball I had hit with my shovel when recovering it. DOOOH!

I used it to write a few "letters from the field" to a young man who was a history major in college at the time. I am a reenactor and this was during the CW 150th commemorations.

It worked quite well on more course paper like construction paper. Not so well on our modern, smooth paper.

DCMatt

13th Virginia Infantry Company I

 

[ArDirtSlinger]

If it is a pencil it will be my 3rd one. And I thought of that myself. I just think the rectangular hole means something. Any way here's my first
got it with my shovel..
And my 2nd

Guess I'll never know for sure

 

[17GoCubsGo44]

I don't know if this it, but I find pieces of civil war artillery that looks kinda like this all the time while metal detecting.

 

[taz42o]

It is a soldier-made pencil. Made from a minie ball.

That is an awesome find!!!

View attachment 1400804

That would explain the human teeth marks, I have seen many people chew on their pencil.

 

[ironhorse]

That would explain the human teeth marks, I have seen many people chew on their pencil.

Human teeth marks?
On lead?
That would be one tough son of a b to bite that hard, I would have thought animal tooth marks like a pig; if anyone thinks a human could chew up lead like bubble gum, give it a try and get back to me

 

[taz42o]

Human teeth marks?
On lead?
That would be one tough son of a b to bite that hard, I would have thought animal tooth marks like a pig; if anyone thinks a human could chew up lead like bubble gum, give it a try and get back to me

I can very easily bite a modern bullet that is an alloy and harder than pure civil war era lead.
But then I am one tough son of a b.

 

[mcl]

Human teeth marks? On lead? That would be one tough son of a b to bite that hard, I would have thought animal tooth marks like a pig; if anyone thinks a human could chew up lead like bubble gum, give it a try and get back to me

I'm just going to go ahead and take your word for it..