Found at old home site, CA gold rush era

[Bedrock Bryan]

 

[duggap]

You need to run that thru electrolysis and see what you have. It may be real interesting.

 

[Hitndahed]

NICE FIND Bryan !!

For sure duggap,,,

That is really interesting looking to me also,,

Can't wait to see it cleaned up more.

 

[coinman123]

Or you could carefully crumble the rust with a hammer.

HAMMERTIME!

 

[kingskid1611]

Carefully peel back all the layers. I am curious too

 

[N-Lionberger]

Looks kind of like a decorative patch box from the stock of a muzzleloading rifle.

 

[BosnMate]

Looks kind of like a decorative patch box from the stock of a muzzleloading rifle.

I also want to see it cleaned up, and I will hold final judgement until it is cleaned, but right now I don't think it's a rifle patch box.

 

[DCMatt]

Clock weight or pendulum?

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Wrong architecture for a patchbox lid. The ring at the top appears cast in place. The two-strand lighter-metal "inclusion" is also not a firearm feature; but may be something that was laying on it and corroded in place rather than part of the original piece.