Civil War Lead and Brass that go BOOM!!!

HomeGuardDan

Bronze Member
Jul 15, 2011
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Williamsburg, VA
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All Treasure Hunting
I got yesterday for what will probably be the last venture into the depth for the summer...it was outright cold!

The day started with some exploring and while nothing came fast and furious the day was steady.

My first target was a case-shot from a civil war artillery shell (lead round balls) and then a mixture of dropped and fired bullets, along with additional case shot rounded the day out.

My take was 23 civil war era bullets and case shot. 10 of the bullets were dropped .58 and .54 three ringers of various sorts. (funny enough) another 10 were fired civil war three ringers (.58 & .54) along with some additional case-shot.

I managed to find three civil war bullets made into fishing sinkers (some more crude than others). I really do enjoy finding them!

My best two finds of the day came in civil war artillery fuses. First was a timed fuse that exploded out of the shell. There are two very unique qualities to this piece. 1. The fuse still has the black enamel coating on the top and 2. the underside of the fuse shows where the case-shot pushed up (forcing the fuse out) upon explosion. This is really a unique piece as the case-shot I dug fit almost perfectly in place (these came from various other areas of the trip, but show how it occurred)

The second fuse is a Schenkl Combination (U.S.) which used a timing system (part of which can be seen here) where small holes spiraling down that side allowed for timed detonation.

I also recovered a nice civil war era hand axe (found below where a fortification once stood) and a few artillery fragments.

The long metal rod with brass lever and brass lock is unknown to me and any help would be appreciated. The lower rod is hollow and took a threaded cap (which I broke off :( ) and the top is solid.

HH

Dan
 

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Upvote 23
Looks like you were able to get one last load of lead and brass for the season. Nice job on the fuses. And that style axe/hatchet, although found on CW sites, was also used in the 18th century. But based on the context in which yours was found, I'm sure yours was 19th century unless it was a hand-me-down from 75 years earlier. On to the fields now .....
 

Always love fuses - and a twofer! Your last iron item looks like a fireplace poker if it's not a harpoon!
 

Always love fuses - and a twofer! Your last iron item looks like a fireplace poker if it's not a harpoon!

Thanks - someone ID'd it already and it is indeed a harpoon or spear for diving...fire place poker was my wife's thought ha ha
 

DANG IT BILL THATS A NICE RELIC SPILL . I WOULD LOVE TO FIND A SITE THAT PRODUCES CW LIKE THAT .
 

Thanks - someone ID'd it already and it is indeed a harpoon or spear for diving...fire place poker was my wife's thought ha ha

She actually said she was going to beat you with a fireplace poker but you must have missed the first part :)

Nice assortment of lead and silver. I would love to see you make some videos...not just making guest appearances in Beau's.
 

That is a nice collection and great information that you have on them. Love the knowledge that you possess.
 

great finds!
 

Congratulations on all of those beautiful bullets Dan! :occasion14:

But what really gets me excited is seeing that civil war era hand axe, it's like clean, clean, clean! :o

Dave
 

Looks like you were able to get one last load of lead and brass for the season. Nice job on the fuses. And that style axe/hatchet, although found on CW sites, was also used in the 18th century. But based on the context in which yours was found, I'm sure yours was 19th century unless it was a hand-me-down from 75 years earlier. On to the fields now .....
Ahhhh too the fields....yea man...I have to admit, while I was freezing in the water, I could not help but think about the peanut fields in our future!
 

She actually said she was going to beat you with a fireplace poker but you must have missed the first part :)

Nice assortment of lead and silver. I would love to see you make some videos...not just making guest appearances in Beau's.

Joey, I made some years ago, but left them to Beau...I am not made for film! ha ha
 

That iron rod with the brass lever rings a bell, and I think it might be a linstock. Nice finds!!
 

That iron rod with the brass lever rings a bell, and I think it might be a linstock. Nice finds!!

Thanks Sling...it actually is a fishing spear/harpoon end for dive spear fishing (early, but not civil war obviously). A few hardcore collectors ID'd it pretty quickly on facebook and had examples of some with brass barbs/locks.
 

Great stuff! Congrats on the very nice fuse!!

-Buck
 

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