Lead Knuckles. Whoda Thunk It? :0

Nana40 · Mar 8, 2013

Lead Knuckles. Who'da Thunk It? :0

So my buddy Lisa and I went on a hunt yesterday. She was especially excited to go as she had just got her new F75 in the mail the day before. We headed out to one of our favorite spots and spent the day trying to figure out the new machine and digging up relics.

Lisa dug up an item and I thought I had seen it before. Something to do with a tent, maybe? We called Quindy to seek advice on how to set up the F75 and told him of the find she had made.

We usually end up finding stuff that we have no idea what the items are. And that was no different on this hunt either. :P

I love to find the old buckles, so I was pleased to have found this one to add to my collection...

Last dig of the day I had no idea what it could be. A large something-or-other made out of lead. Lisa and I looked it over and laughed at how odd it looked. We tried to imagine what it could be. It looked like the shape of brass knuckles...but lead? Nah, that couldn't be it.

So I tossed 'em in with the rest of the stuff and headed home. Later that evening I mailed Quindy and sent some pics of our finds and a little update on Lisa's learning process of the new machine. Today I was out cleaning up the back 40 and get a phone call. Quindy starts off with, "Nana! Do you have any idea what you two girls dug up yesterday?" Ummmmm....."What Quindy?!" That's when he starts to explain that those funny looking lead knuckles are quite special and so is that tent tensioner. Civil War, you say? Woop! We've found the CW era bullets and buttons and even the end of a Confederate sword (pommel) (of which I had no idea) scattered around here, but wow was I surprised to learn about this chunk of lead. I think from now on I'll send Quindy pics of every single relic we dig up. lol
Have a great weekend!
Nana

Roger Mn. · Mar 9, 2013

WOW you gals are sure tearing it up down there.

CRUSADER · Mar 9, 2013

Yeap, very cool a lead version, seen a couple posted.

VOL1266-X · Mar 9, 2013

Congrats Bama Gals. If Lisa found that brass tent tensioner with her new F75, she is good to go on buttons & plates. Nana, the lead knuckles qualify as a BANNER recovery as they are extremely rare. I will formally nominate them as such. If Cru has only seen a couple posted , they are indeed rare. Here's a pic from "Excavated Artifacts from Battlefields and Campsites of the Civil War 1861-1865" by Stanley S. Phillips. Homemade (No 2 will be the same) lead knuckles from a Confederate site-Got to be BANNER!! WTG Gals, Q.

flyinryan2 · Mar 9, 2013

Wow awesome job on the finds!! Those lead knuckles are very cool! Way to go Quindy for the ID. I'd vote banner as well!

wvwildman · Mar 9, 2013

very nice finds congrats HH.

CMDiamonddawg · Mar 9, 2013

Way to go on them knuckles , very tough relic to get :thumbsup:

Congrats on diggin' them up , good to see ya back

River Rat · Mar 9, 2013

WTG, Bama Girls!!

Breezie · Mar 9, 2013

Nana Puddin!!! Definitely a BANNER find on those CW Lead 'camp made' knuckles!!! I'm voting BANNER too. Your other finds are nothing to sneeze at either; congratulations and way to go. :thumbsup:

BTW, welcome to the 3 Merry Widows Club! LOL LOL.

Breezie

tennessee digger · Mar 9, 2013

I vote Banner also. Finds like that are extremely rare because they weren't mass produced or military issued but homemade by a soldier. We often look at things like buckles, buttons, old coins, gold rings, ect. and often overlook a relic like that. Good thing you contacted Quindy as you might not have realized what you had. Great find! Tennessee digger

treasurehound · Mar 9, 2013

Congrats on some great finds. You don't see knuckles found very often. Glad to see I am not the only one that has found a Merry Widow (condom tin).

jewelerguy · Mar 9, 2013

super cool relic!

hamiddetecting · Mar 9, 2013

Nana40 · Mar 9, 2013

OH wow! Thanks ya'll! I never would have thought that relic would be so exciting when I dug it up! Thanks to Quindy pointing it out, it will sure have a place in my collection of goodies. :hello:

And as for the Merry Widows tin...I've dug a few of those over the years. :angel3:

......

Thanks again
Nana

history hunter · Mar 9, 2013

nice finds!!

woodstock · Mar 9, 2013

Those are really cool in fact all of it is ... you must keep digging that area cause there's a lot more to find . Woodstock

Gestus · Mar 9, 2013

Congrats on the finds!

HISPAN · Mar 9, 2013

interesting artisan made knuckles ! :icon_thumright:

Tnmountains · Mar 9, 2013

Nice finds. They are very rare to dig and especially ones that are home made. Shows the ingenuity of the soldier and the lengths they would go to,to survive. Maybe for protecting a ration or possibly when all other means failed to protect himself in battle. Desperate times when you pour yourself some lead knuckles. On the other hand I see good times in a later era with the Merry widow tin. Good hunt!! Great history. :thumbsup: