Beginners luck! and then some!

[Amyzon]

Beginner's luck! and then some!

These are a few of the items we (my husband and I) dug over the past couple of days at a local park that is rich in history! Today, we brought along our 16 year son, and the lucky joker dug a musketball first target! Beginner's Luck!! The other items are an old square head cut nail, that from my understanding would have been used in the 1800's. We are not sure about the bullet casing yet, and the large ring, but these items were dug in the same general area. Having been found in a site with so much history, it's hard to place a date on the musket ball, and we are wondering if there are some things we could look for in order to better date it....I am thinking between 1700-1800's-PLEASE correct me if I am wrong. The bullet has a F and an A on it's headstamp, and the number 3 then a space, and the numbers 05 in a fancy number style. I have been digging old bullet casings from this same park, so we are hoping it's old as well. Any feedback for these newbies is greatly appreciated. I am still learning how to research eras for items such as these....

 

[Amyzon]

Re: Beginner's luck! and then some!

That is a modern rifle cartridge... dunno about the other two iron things. Welcome to our addiction!


Chukers


Found this in regards to the bullet just now online...
"Regular Issue Krag Cartridges Manufactured at The Frankford Arsenal from May 1894 Until the E.O.P."
Originally the headstamp was configured with an “F” at the top, the month at the 8 o’clock year at the 4 o’clock position. In July 1902 this was changed to the headstamp we are more familiar with, and the addition of an “A” after the “F”. The headstamp then read “FA” at the top, with the month and year at the bottom, i.e., 03-04, which would be March of 1904"

Having read this I am to assume that my find was a cartridge manufactured in March, of 1905! That's pretty dang old in my book!

 

[K Zack]

Re: Beginner's luck! and then some!

Another 100+ year old sell case, you are starting to put a date on the site that you are hunting.
As for you Question a few days ago, I do not know a lot about firearm casings.
For the most part you can always find it some where on the net.
As far as the nail, our house is full of them and it was built in about 1865 or 70.
Good luck with your hunt, it seems to be an old site.
Kevin

 

[Amyzon]

Re: Beginner's luck! and then some!

Another 100+ year old sell case, you are starting to put a date on the site that you are hunting.
As for you Question a few days ago, I do not know a lot about firearm casings.
For the most part you can always find it some where on the net.
As far as the nail, our house is full of them and it was built in about 1865 or 70.
Good luck with your hunt, it seems to be an old site.
Kevin

Kevin,

Could you offer any advice on that musketball? From what we are reading about the site, this could be a musketball dating back to around 1730's, when Spanish invaded the area. I'm so excited and just want to learn as much as I can about it! There are actually several different historical features to this site during different eras dating back to prior 1700's through the early 1930's.

 

[K Zack]

Re: Beginner's luck! and then some!

Another 100+ year old sell case, you are starting to put a date on the site that you are hunting.
As for you Question a few days ago, I do not know a lot about firearm casings.
For the most part you can always find it some where on the net.
As far as the nail, our house is full of them and it was built in about 1865 or 70.
Good luck with your hunt, it seems to be an old site.
Kevin

Kevin,

Could you offer any advice on that musketball? From what we are reading about the site, this could be a musketball dating back to around 1730's, when Spanish invaded the area. I'm so excited and just want to learn as much as I can about it! There are actually several different historical features to this site during different eras dating back to prior 1700's through the early 1930's.

I did just a quick search on Spanish Muskets 1700’s and found this
http://pirates.hegewisch.net/musket.html

First thing you would need to know is what caliber it is.
Caliber is hundredths of an inch.
I am not sure that it can be dated, but you might be able to get close.
Kevin

 

[BosnMate]

Re: Beginner's luck! and then some!

I love your enthusiasm, and I don't want to be the one to rain on your find, but it's really hard to tell anything about a round lead ball that's outside of some other identifying item for possible dating. People are still shooting round ball muzzle loading firearms, me among them. Round ball bullets date back as far as the first gun, and that's several hundred years ago. The first thing needed to have any idea of what you have found is an accurate measurement of the size of the ball. From your photo, your ball looks like it was dropped, not fired. Also you don't say where you are located, so again, there isn't enough information for even a wild guess. If you are in a location of a fight that has been documented like Civil War sites, or Indian/White battles, French and Indian war, or the fur trade, then it would help to perhaps come up with something.

 

[BosnMate]

Re: Beginner's luck! and then some!

It could possibly date to the 1730's, to make a more intelligent guess, next you need to find out what caliber firearms the Spanish were using. Did they have a fight with whom? Indians, English, French, whom? Military muskets in the 1730's tended to be large bore guns. Usually from .69 to .72 caliber. Caliber is the measurement in inches, the .72 caliber being almost 3/4 of an inch across.

 

[Amyzon]

Re: Beginner's luck! and then some!

It could possibly date to the 1730's, to make a more intelligent guess, next you need to find out what caliber firearms the Spanish were using. Did they have a fight with whom? Indians, English, French, whom? Military muskets in the 1730's tended to be large bore guns. Usually from .69 to .72 caliber. Caliber is the measurement in inches, the .72 caliber being almost 3/4 of an inch across.



Spanish invaded this area during that time frame so would make sense. I will get measurements (and more info on the occurance) tomorrow and post. Check back in on me tomorrow and see what you think. THANKS!

 

[bazinga]

Re: Beginner's luck! and then some!

I think you are a little too hopeful in your finds and your imagination is getting the best of you.

When you hear hoof beats, think horses, not zebras.

 

[Just some Guy]

Re: Beginner's luck! and then some!

Great Finds!!!

Well Done, it is so cool that this something you can do with your Family,

Happy Hunting,

Dan

 

[Chuck In Oregon]

Re: Beginner's luck! and then some!

The FA is Frankford Arsenal. There's an article on Wiki. I'll guess it's a .30-06 based on the long neck.

Chuck

 

[Amyzon]

Re: Beginner's luck! and then some!

The FA is Frankford Arsenal. There's an article on Wiki. I'll guess it's a .30-06 based on the long neck.

Chuck



Chuck, I found this about the bullet:

Found this in regards to the bullet just now online...
"Regular Issue Krag Cartridges Manufactured at The Frankford Arsenal from May 1894 Until the E.O.P."
Originally the headstamp was configured with an “F” at the top, the month at the 8 o’clock year at the 4 o’clock position. In July 1902 this was changed to the headstamp we are more familiar with, and the addition of an “A” after the “F”. The headstamp then read “FA” at the top, with the month and year at the bottom, i.e., 03-04, which would be March of 1904"

Having read this I am to assume that my find was a cartridge manufactured in March, of 1905! That's pretty dang old in my book

Amy

 

[kuger]

Re: Beginner's luck! and then some!

Just to add to what Bosn stated.........firearms were what put food on the table,everybody had one,and used em....1730's-..........like he said still use em today.Heck I have dug hundreds of em and there was now wars anywhere near me!

 

[Amyzon]

Re: Beginner's luck! and then some!

Just to add to what Bosn stated.........firearms were what put food on the table,everybody had one,and used em....1730's-..........like he said still use em today.Heck I have dug hundreds of em and there was now wars anywhere near me!


Kuger,
This is the area's history, without being too precise as to give it away, (which I almost feel led to do to further explain to some doubters of my finds) The area has been a public park for a very long time, and I don't think anyone would be firing any musket balls around all those children and tourist! LOL!


"It" was a favorite Native American campground. In the 16th century a Franciscan monastery was built near this site.

During colonial days the landing at the bluff became Georgia's first naval base and bears the name of the man, ******, who first surveyed the Georgia coast for England.

When the Spanish fleet sailed up from St. Augustine to attack Oglethorpe's settlement at Fort Frederica, they landed here. (1742) They came ashore and burned all the buildings.

During the Plantation Era, sea island long staple cotton was shipped to ports around the world from the Hamilton Plantation dock at ******. Exports stopped during the Civil War when the bluff became United States Navy Headquarters

In the years following that war, life at ******* took on renewed vigor as a sawmill industry flourished on the riverbanks. Live Oaks growing on St. Simons were cut and milled at ******* for the U.S.S.Constitution- "Old Ironsides" so named because of the nearly impenetrable strength of the Live Oak timber. St. James Union Church, now called Lovely Lane Chapel, was built in 1880 by the Dodge family for the ****** mill community.

Now, am I just being overly excited to think that some of my finds are old? LOL. I thank YOU for your support!

 

[kuger]

Re: Beginner's luck! and then some!

Amy,I wasnt implying your finds were not old at all!I was saying that musket balls have been used for more than warfare for a very long time.Dating a ball in hand can be nearly impossible,as even the "white",patina ed ones which some claim to be a way to date them is not true.I have dug balls that my grand father shot into a bank behind the house 50 years ago that were white.Givin the provenance you has stated I would say there is a strong chance your ball indeed could have had affiliation with any of those events,and wise choice on your part to not say too much,in the end one has to just take what info you have and what info you get and garner a conclusion from that

 

[K Zack]

Re: Beginner's luck! and then some!

There is some Great History in that Place. Amyzon, Keep on Smiling and Keep Chasing that Coil.
Kevin

 

[kevkirki]

Re: Beginner's luck! and then some!

your hooked now keep fishn

 

[Amyzon]

Re: Beginner's luck! and then some!

Amy,I wasnt implying your finds were not old at all!I was saying that musket balls have been used for more than warfare for a very long time.Dating a ball in hand can be nearly impossible,as even the "white",patina ed ones which some claim to be a way to date them is not true.I have dug balls that my grand father shot into a bank behind the house 50 years ago that were white.Givin the provenance you has stated I would say there is a strong chance your ball indeed could have had affiliation with any of those events,and wise choice on your part to not say too much,in the end one has to just take what info you have and what info you get and garner a conclusion from that

I never once thought you were! I know you are being supportive, that's what I was saying to you! There was another comment about getting overly excited about my finds, and letting my imagination get the best of me! LOL

 

[kuger]

Re: Beginner's luck! and then some!

Amy,I wasnt implying your finds were not old at all!I was saying that musket balls have been used for more than warfare for a very long time.Dating a ball in hand can be nearly impossible,as even the "white",patina ed ones which some claim to be a way to date them is not true.I have dug balls that my grand father shot into a bank behind the house 50 years ago that were white.Givin the provenance you has stated I would say there is a strong chance your ball indeed could have had affiliation with any of those events,and wise choice on your part to not say too much,in the end one has to just take what info you have and what info you get and garner a conclusion from that

I never once thought you were! I know you are being supportive, that's what I was saying to you! There was another comment about getting overly excited about my finds, and letting my imagination get the best of me! LOL

you just keep doin what your doin girl

 

[K Zack]

Re: Beginner's luck! and then some!

Your imagination is a Great tool, don’t be afraid to use it.
Try to put yourself in the shoes of the people that made the history.
Where would I take cover, where would I shoot from or where would I have my Picnic at? If I were a child here where would I play?
Use your imagination.
There has Never been anyone who has picked up a metal detector who has not Imagined themselves finding a stash of some kind.
Kevin