🥇 BANNER Intact James Shell...Never In My Wildest Dreams!

[garren]

I would have never dreamed I would get an intact James shell from a hay field 16" deep with a 5X8 coil. I can't believe I found an artillery shell, period!

I also found a round iron ball nearby. I guess its safe to say it's grape shot given this location?

I have a few questions...Its hard researching from a hotel and I cant go cleaning on this shell here.

Will this have a fuse? or is there a James with a solid nose?
I was under the impression that all James' had to be drilled to make them inert. Are any solid?
Was the James Confederate, Union or both?



**Updating - Nov 2016 with a pic of the finished shell.

 

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[Digg Mo]

Dude that is an awesome find!! Hats off to a find that needs to be bannered.

 

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[Tnmountains]

He does have a big set to drill it. Guy here did shells for everyone for years until one exploded killing him. That shell will clean up very well and always be a center piece in your collection.Preservation has to come quick once out of the ground. I have waited and had some iron delaminate from waiting a little to long.
Outstanding find!
HH

 

[beerguy]

Wow! Great find! It will look even better after a little more cleaning. Congrats! Banner vote is in!

 

[DigIron2]

Pure awesomeness garren..like Relic nut mentioned, there might be more around there. Your step dad has some balls for sure. For future reference don't let him do that to any shell that has dried out being out the ground for awhile, unless he really knows what he's is doing. Looks like it will clean up nicely too man.. Congratulations to you! Banner.

 

[garren]

Pure awesomeness garren..like Relic nut mentioned, there might be more around there. Your step dad has some balls for sure. For future reference don't let him do that to any shell that has dried out being out the ground for awhile, unless he really knows what he's is doing. Looks like it will clean up nicely too man.. Congratulations to you! Banner.

I found this yesterday just before dark and it was our last day there. The woman who owns the property bid us farewell with an open invitation to come back any time. I will take everyone's advice and focus on this field next trip.

I would have preferred to, and had planned to, drill this remotely...but instead I just hid...you can't argue with crazy.

After it was drilled and I started power washing the powder out, a sulfur smell filled the air. You could smell the powder...l I felt like I was smelling the civil war. That was pretty darn cool!

Thank you everyone for the comments and banner votes. This is one of those once in a lifetime finds for me given the distance I live from civil war activity.

 

[T.C.]

Awesome find I vote Banner

 

[ironman123]

Those are awesome finds. Congrats.

 

[Discrimination Dave]

Very cool.
Did you find that in a north texas field?
I see you are in Ft. Worth, but you mention that you are staying in a hotel.
Hunting down south somewhere?
I grew up about 40 miles south of cowtown
Great recovery, congratulations

 

[Rogue Relic Hunter]

He does have a big set to drill it. Guy here did shells for everyone for years until one exploded killing him. That shell will clean up very well and always be a center piece in your collection.Preservation has to come quick once out of the ground. I have waited and had some iron delaminate from waiting a little to long.
Outstanding find!
HH

that is why i never drill mine. i dry them out over the fireplace.

 

[ScubaDetector]

that is why i never drill mine. i dry them out over the fireplace.

New Christmas song? James shell roasting on an open fire, fragments flying past your nose

 

[alabama11]

Great work. My guess is the south is full of these. Metal detect with care.

 

[Tradertom]

Unbelievable find. Will look great when cleaned up. Congratulations!

 

[UnderMiner]

Fascinating piece of military history! No doubt soon to be a centerpiece in your ever expanding home collection!

 

[garren]

Very cool.
Did you find that in a north texas field?
I see you are in Ft. Worth, but you mention that you are staying in a hotel.
Hunting down south somewhere?

Yes, a neighboring state.

 

[Discrimination Dave]

Yes, a neighboring state.

Your teasing now Garren.
Arkansas?
I grew up about 40 miles south of cowtown

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

Update with pictures when you complete your cleaning, that is going to be awesome.

 

[TheCoinKid]

I grew up about 40 miles south of cowtown

Interesting. So did I.

 

[garren]

Update with pictures when you complete your cleaning, that is going to be awesome.

Will do! I'm going to hook it up to the electrolysis system this weekend. From what others have told me it will take between 2-4 weeks on a relic this size. I will probably take some pics in between solution changes too.
This will be a long few weeks! I can't stop looking at it!

 

[CA_Vermonster]

Very cool find! Big congrats!

 

[Doc Arey]

Too cool! on my list