??? Civil War Trigger ID ???

Rogue Relic Hunter

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Oct 3, 2016
746
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Virginia Colony
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DETECTORS: XP Deus WS-4, Garrett AT Pro and Pro-Pointer, Fisher CZ-5
TOOLS: Piranha shovel & R85 Military digger, both by Predator Tools
ATTIRE: Red Head brand Knee-High Waterproof Snake Boots
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Relic Hunting
Dug this trigger in Virginia in an area where I dug 3 case-shot balls and a civil war bullet. Can anyone ID it?

Trigger is small (clad quarter for size perspective), so definitely small arms. Posted 2 pics, one for each side of the trigger. trigger1.jpgtrigger2.jpg Not sure, could also be from a toy gun. Not a small arms or toy expert. I just dig the stuff! :dontknow:
 

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Is that some gilt left on the base of the trigger?
 

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Is that some gilt left on the base of the trigger?

yes, now that you mention it. I scratched some of the crud off with my fingernail and it appears gold underneath. :icon_thumright:
 

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I'm trying to look that one up too. I have a book about small arms also showing guns as well. I'm gonna tgrow out maybe 1860 colt .44 that's just a guess and if I get lucky and it's right you have to take me hunting one day
 

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I'm trying to look that one up too. I have a book about small arms also showing guns as well. I'm gonna tgrow out maybe 1860 colt .44 that's just a guess and if I get lucky and it's right you have to take me hunting one day
You got it! I am near where the battle of big bethel took place. i live off of big bethel road. the battle took place a few miles from here, the main one. The main battlefield is under the lake now. bummer. but, there must have been skirmishes in this area to be finding case-shot.
 

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You got it! I am near where the battle of big bethel took place. i live off of big bethel road. the battle took place a few miles from here, the main one. The main battlefield is under the lake now. bummer. but, there must have been skirmishes in this area to be finding case-shot.

That's how our stuff is here. One of my main camps is under the lake but I've found small camps and skirmish sites around the general area
 

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I'm trying to look that one up too. I have a book about small arms also showing guns as well. I'm gonna tgrow out maybe 1860 colt .44 that's just a guess and if I get lucky and it's right you have to take me hunting one day

the trigger is not thin like I am seeing on some pistols in a civil war book i have. it is fat toward the bottom. this is a pic of from the front where you would be squeezing the trigger from. trigger3.jpg
 

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I'm trying to look that one up too. I have a book about small arms also showing guns as well. I'm gonna tgrow out maybe 1860 colt .44 that's just a guess and if I get lucky and it's right you have to take me hunting one day

this is a pic of the backside of the trigger. trigger4.jpg
 

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That's how our stuff is here. One of my main camps is under the lake but I've found small camps and skirmish sites around the general area

you are in Winslow, Arizona? they just had their standing on the corner deal. I have been there. Lived in Tucson and traveled all over Az. wish i did metal detecting back then. My god what I could have found in some of those places near Tombstone.
 

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I don't think it's a a trigger, at least not from a real gun.... It's just too rough around the edges.... it might be a lever from a powder flask though
i am interested in this powder flask hypothesis. looking at those now to see if there is a resemblance. the 1st pic i posted, does that make sense to how it would attach to the powder flask?
 

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i am interested in this powder flask hypothesis. looking at those now to see if there is a resemblance. the 1st pic i posted, does that make sense to how it would attach to the powder flask?

i found this pic online and compared to the 1st pic i posted. it is a possibility. what do you think? powderkeg.jpg

here is my 1st pic again. i am not saying this is the exact powder flask, just that this idea has potential given this pic trigger1.jpg
 

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i am interested in this powder flask hypothesis. looking at those now to see if there is a resemblance. the 1st pic i posted, does that make sense to how it would attach to the powder flask?

this one looks a lot like the one i posted. again, not same, just has a resemblance.

flask.jpg
 

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Does yours have two holes on end or just one
 

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Look up antique civil war colt powder flask. Possibly the arm on the flask is it
 

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Does a magnet stick to it? Just wondering if it is die cast.
no sir, the magnet does not stick. does this tell us anything besides it is not magnetic? curious.
 

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Look up antique civil war colt powder flask. Possibly the arm on the flask is it
it is a possibility. don't understand how this would work with the TWO holes, however. any ideas. sure looks like a trigger mechanism.

check out this pic of a civil war trigger mechanism (below). also TWO holes. i think mine is a trigger!

trigger5-example.jpg

again, my trigger pic (below)

trigger1.jpg

*NOTE: someone mentioned may not be from a real gun. it feels heavier than a toy gun trigger would. also, under the crud, is gold. i do not see too many gold toy guns, mostly silver. but, toy guns do have some sophisticated looking trigger mechanisms if you look online. STILL OPEN FOR OPINIONS...
 

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That's why I originally thought it was a legit trigger cause most toy guns don't have the second hole it's just a small hole for a spring
 

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