Im Still Alive! Gun Flint, Pipe Stems, Trade Bead, Mystery Brass Clip

[BuckleBoy]

I'm Still Alive! Gun Flint, Pipe Stems, Trade Bead, Mystery Brass Clip

Hello All,

Just wanted everyone to know that I'm still alive. Fought the 105 degree heat index down here for these finds. Basically just finishing up a grid on an old site. First thing I found was the French amber-colored gun flint. It was staring up at me when I got out of my truck.



Was picking up a large quantity of pipe stems, so I thought I had a chance at something the rain had washed out. Ended up with one measly flat button, a large bronze nail, a sword hanger that has a snake's head on it, and a blue trade bead that was burned by the cane fires.

Oh, and I got a clad quarter.

Was pleased with the gun flint and trade bead though. I think we've only picked up 4 or 5 gun flints down here in 2 1/2 years.



This sword hanger. Certainly an iron clip at one time on the back, long since rusted away.




I'm sure that the cane harvest this fall will give me the jolt I need, but right now I'm just a little psychologically beaten by the extreme heat and humidity. Last year we hunted all summer in it, but had some very good virgin sites. This summer it's finishing up grids, finding the last bits from old sites, and scouting. The scouting can be exhausting with lots of walking and distance needing to be covered in calf deep mud, mosquitos, and 100+ heat index. Wish we had done more scouting earlier on in the year.

Happy Hunting,


Buck

 

[BuckleBoy]

At least you got out BB. I spent most of the day raking hay. With all those pipe stems, Diggergirl must have been with you with her eagle eyes. Your mystery relic may be CW related. Here's an iron version I dug in a Gen. John Hunt Morgan C.S.A. cavalry camp. Someone identified my relic and your find may be a version of the link strap? HH, Q.

Now that's an interesting thought. No, she wasn't along for this trip. I ended up with quite a few stems. To be honest at one point I just turned off the detector and started walking since I was finding more with my eyes than with the detector.

-Buck

 

[BuckleBoy]

Congrats on the clad quarter buck! Don't see you post them very often, lol. Nice to see you back.


Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

This is the 2nd or 3rd one in a couple years. I didn't catch and release. I'm all too happy to spend that puppy.

Cheers,

Buck

 

[BuckleBoy]

Nice finds Buck. Banner on the clad quarter! Just kidding. That snake hanger is a killer find. Do you eye all those pipe stems or are some coming up when ya dig? I only have a few fields I hunt but never found one on top of the ground.

Seems like we find a large number here in the 1700s sites. They wash out after the rain. I have a jar of probably 600-700 stems at home from our colonial tavern site, all eyeballed. My buddy has probably eyeballed 400-500 more. Most trips early on we'd bring back 30 or so apiece each hunt. This past Christmas I strung them up on some twine and used them like popcorn garland on the tree. (no joke)

 

[BuckleBoy]

WOW! Now I get the feeling that this CAN'T be coincidence. Wonder if some regiments received these hangers. Perhaps they were locally made down here... That's the hanger alright! Wow!

BB, nice hunt. I pulled the same hanger up that you have. It's CW but I have not got a good ID on it. But the cool part is two feet to the left I dug this button. As you can see it's a Louisiana. They come off a hill over looking the R&R. Very cool finds. Let me know if you get a good ID on this one. HH.......

View attachment 1019074 View attachment 1019075

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

Must be nice to have an opportunity to get out this time of year Buck, and make some recoveries to boot. I'm sure things will pick back up for you guys in the fall. BTW - what are the bore diameters for your pipe stems? You should be able to more precisely date that site with that info if you haven't done so already.

 

[BuckleBoy]

Must be nice to have an opportunity to get out this time of year Buck, and make some recoveries to boot. I'm sure things will pick back up for you guys in the fall. BTW - what are the bore diameters for your pipe stems? You should be able to more precisely date that site with that info if you haven't done so already.

Bore diameters are primarily 4/64th, with some 5/64's (70% of the former, almost 30% of the latter) so I'd guess 1750-1800. Relics span 1720s up through 1840s, and nothing after that. Most relics recovered in the 1800-1820 range.