Brass piece, looks like a game piece

[Vino]

Going through my stuff from the fall and i found this brass piece, its pretty heavy. .Not sure what it is, anybody have a idea? Its solid on the bottom, thats what is throwing me off..
Thanks George

 

[Broken knee]

It's an acorn finial from what maybe a clock? HH
BK

 

[ARC]

My guess... Pipe Tamper.
Here is a long version.

 

[Vino]

It's an acorn finial from what maybe a clock? HH
BK

That was my first thought, but it has a soild bottom. .No way to attach it.

 

[Vino]

My guess... Pipe Tamper.
Here is a long version.
View attachment 1126169

Didn't even think of that..Because of its size..
I like that idea. .
Thanks Arrc..

 

[ARC]

prolly just pocket sized.
I can see it being kept opposite the "watch pocket".

 

[Vino]

I found this one on the net..Its small like this one.

 

[Peyton Manning]

looks like a cw bullet that has been altered

 

[ARC]

looks like a cw bullet that has been altered

Actually jeff we could both be right...
Could be a bullet carved to be a Tamper...
Or chess piece etc.
It does have a bend to it...

Vino are you sure it is made out of "brass" ?
Is so... then I vote Tamper...
If lead... game piece ... aka "trench art"..,
OF coure I am not sure it was called "trench art" in The Civil War...
I think that term starts with ww1.

 

[Vino]

Definitely not lead..
And not carved..
The deformation could be from the heat of the pipe??

 

[ARC]

Could have just been dropped "just right".. heh
not from heat.
Stepped on prolly.

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

Vino - I don't believe this is related to a pipe tamper. It looks like some kind of finial to me, but I don't see any attachment point on the bottom. And it's probably too heavy to be a gaming piece. Sorry, but guess I can't really help much with its identity or age. Very interesting .....

 

[DCMatt]

Cartridge box finial?

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/what/439139-civil-war-cap-box-finial.html

 

[tamrock]

Cartridge box finial?

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/what/439139-civil-war-cap-box-finial.html

It sure does look like it. I've never herd of one til now.

 

[nhbenz]

Although I don't think it's a cartridge box finial, Matt's link shows what I was wondering about, which is the possibility that the groove near the bottom may have been the means of attachment, maybe? Take for example the finial on this teapot -- I'm not just sure how it's attached, but it seems not to be by a screw: Antique 19th Century Copper Kettle Gooseneck Brass Teapot Acorn Finial Dovetail

-the groove seems thick enough for sheet metal, rather than leather as would be the case on a cartridge box or similar closure.

 

[DCMatt]

Ben is right on! Here's a pic showing the underside of the a teapot lid.

 

[ARC]

Didn't even think of that..Because of its size..
I like that idea. .
Thanks Arrc..

Heh.

 

[ARC]

Here is a cool tamper...
just had to share

 

[Muddyhandz]

Here's a FRACTION of my finials.....



Some have a solid bottom like Vino's, some are threaded, and some have ferrous pins or spikes. The pewter/lead ones are 100% off of old beer steins as I'm sure some of the brass ones are similar in purpose like from kettle/pot lids. Some are hardware finials from furniture, horse tack, etc.

Here's some bigger ones....

 

[THing4CSA]

I believe it is a cartridge box finial. That bottom ring is a push in pin and would have had the leather or canvas of the cartridge case between them.