Bahamas Treasure find!

[TREASURE TEACHER USA]

I believe I have found an old (16-1800’s) flintlock pistol on the coast of the Bahamas. About 1/2 mile out there is a site that yielded Spanish silver coins and other artifacts. I have recovered some of the ships parts and items while diving. Today I found this. You have to admit it has the look, even with the hammer and strike plate. Wondering what I should do get it back to the states then how to identify and care for it. Any positive help is appreciated. Thanks

 

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[unclemac]

whatever you do, keep us posted.

 

[Gare]

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING !!! you forgot to post the GPS COORDINATES to that spot LOL

 

[Jose The Goon]

Great find & congrats on scuba diving in the Bahamas. I'm not an expert but others here can help you with how to restore & preserve it. That being said, I think it would be a good idea to keep it from drying out by keeping it in a bucket of water until you can somehow get it back home & then put it back in water as soon as you can. Great find ! I hope it's old. Cheers !!

 

[billb]

That’s a great recovery
Good luck on the restore

 

[iAmMike]

Sure looks like a pistol to me. No clue on how to restore it, sorry.

 

[Trezurehunter]

Now that's a neat find !

 

[Florida Finder]

I believe I have found an old (16-1800’s) flintlock pistol on the coast of the Bahamas. About 1/2 mile out there is a site that yielded Spanish silver coins and other artifacts. I have recovered some of the ships parts and items while diving. Today I found this. You have to admit it has the look, even with the hammer and strike plate. Wondering what I should do get it back to the states then how to identify and care for it. Any positive help is appreciated. Thanks

Awesomeness!

 

[Digger RJ]

I believe I have found an old (16-1800’s) flintlock pistol on the coast of the Bahamas. About 1/2 mile out there is a site that yielded Spanish silver coins and other artifacts. I have recovered some of the ships parts and items while diving. Today I found this. You have to admit it has the look, even with the hammer and strike plate. Wondering what I should do get it back to the states then how to identify and care for it. Any positive help is appreciated. Thanks

Very Cool!!!!! Congrats!!!!!! Maybe Electrolysis? I’d definitely wait for the experts to chime in!

 

[vpnavy]

OUT·STAND·ING find TREASURE TEACHER USA! Hope someone can ID it. Thanks for sharing...

 

[ARC]

Just curious... what are the laws concerning the removal of artifacts from wrecks sites in the Bahamas ? ? ?

 

[islamoradamark]

Welcome to Treasurenet

 

[Gare]

Treasure Teacher what do you teach exactly ?

 

[Gare]

Dang i forgot also Welcome to TREASURENET !!!

 

[Hunk-a-lead]

I believe I have found an old (16-1800’s) flintlock pistol on the coast of the Bahamas. About 1/2 mile out there is a site that yielded Spanish silver coins and other artifacts. I have recovered some of the ships parts and items while diving. Today I found this. You have to admit it has the look, even with the hammer and strike plate. Wondering what I should do get it back to the states then how to identify and care for it. Any positive help is appreciated. Thanks

really cool find, good luck on returning and restoring it

 

[TREASURE TEACHER USA]

Elementary education. I share my experiences with my kids since many of them do not get to travel and i use this kind of stuff to make learning more enjoyable.

Treasure Teacher what do you teach exactly ?

 

[crashbandicoot]

Elementary education. I share my experiences with my kids since many of them do not get to travel and i use this kind of stuff to make learning more enjoyable.

As far as US laws there shouldn,t be any problems,it would come under the relics and curios section which are very liberal. Look it up on the ATF site if you want. I doubt many would even be able to ID it as a firearm. If in checked baggage shouldn,t have any problems,I,m assuming you,re flying home here. TSA might be sticky if it,s in carry on.I know nothing about Bahamas law. Kudos on teaching your kids with your experiences.

 

[Gare]

Did you find this in the water or out of it ?

 

[CRUSADER]

Elementary education. I share my experiences with my kids since many of them do not get to travel and i use this kind of stuff to make learning more enjoyable.

Welcome to Tnet.
My Sis is a teacher & I know a few I have given period finds for classroom learning. They enjoy touching the ancient objects because for the most part they can only look at behind glass in a Museum.
Also given lots of stuff to kids to take into the schools & show the class.
A worthwhile thing to do.

 

[PhipsFolly]

I believe I have found an old (16-1800’s) flintlock pistol on the coast of the Bahamas. About 1/2 mile out there is a site that yielded Spanish silver coins and other artifacts. I have recovered some of the ships parts and items while diving. Today I found this. You have to admit it has the look, even with the hammer and strike plate. Wondering what I should do get it back to the states then how to identify and care for it. Any positive help is appreciated. Thanks

First off… treasure hunting in the Bahamas is not allowed unless you have a lease from the Bahamian gov so posting this on here is probably not a wise choice.

Secondly, it does look like a possible Spanish colonial flintlock pistol as far as shape, but obviously can’t be confirmed without an X-ray of the encrusted object or doing proper conservation… I hope you have not had the object out of water for any amount of time… it will crumble to pieces if allowed to dry out…

If it is in fact a pistol, it will need to be taken apart and conserved piece by piece… compression equipment needed and ethylene glycol for wood preservation and electrolysis for metal parts… good luck with conservation… it’s a tedious process.