HUGE bell with a musket piece inside

[mk4125]

I ventured back out to one of my usual fur trade areas and found this large bell. It was packed full of dirt and, after washing, a flintlock component dropped out. The bell is clearly broken so not sure it they placed in there as a 'clanger' (to make the bell sound) or...well...not really sure why else it would be in there.

 

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[Wampum]

Maybe the iron ball rusted apart and reformed then much of the rust was lost resulting in that shape remaining?

 

[mk4125]

Maybe the iron ball rusted apart and reformed then much of the rust was lost resulting in that shape remaining?

It's definitely the double action mechanism from a flintlock gun. Positive on that piece.

 

[vpnavy]

Neat - if it could only talk!

 

[Wampum]

Wow that is a really odd place for one.

 

[pepperj]

Having dug many bells up and seeing what's inside I'll wager that what you have is the ball/striker and the attached wire rusted up to form what looks like another object. My question would be why would they repurpose a gun part at a bell foundry to make the crotal bell?
The other possibility is that the bell was broken, flintlock broken, all thrown into trash pit, gun part fell into bell, you dug it up, and now we debate the "maybe this or that" of the find.
Nice bell BTW, congrats on the recovery and the great pics.

 

[mascotwoods]

Looks like a tumbler from a side lock. Could be flint or percussion or even a later side lock shotgun. The square piece engages the hammer through the side plate and the pin on the other side rides in the bridle. Why it's in a bell who knows.

 

[DownNDirty]

Maybe the iron ball rusted apart and reformed then much of the rust was lost resulting in that shape remaining?

That's what it looks like to me.

 

[trapperart]

Congrats

 

[dirtlooter]

still a very darn cool bell

 

[mk4125]

Just realized that the portion of the bell appears to be related to the molding process (as it has a smooth edge where the brass ended). Odd.