🔎 UNIDENTIFIED Little help figuring out what these are.....?

[Martyo]

Found these detecting near old mines in Northern California- Both handmade- ideas.....?

 

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[villagenut]

Looks like a bullet mould and a blacksmith awl or scribe.

 

[vpnavy]

One of your items is a "bullet mold." Here is a similar one...

RARE BULLET MOLD FOR .31 CALIBER "WELLS FARGO" M-1849 COLT REVOLVER​

 

[Martyo]

Looks like a bullet mould and a blacksmith awl or scribe.

Thanks so much!! My father in law thought the same, but it doesnt seem to open... and its maybe 22 size- Here is a rifle butt I found about 10 feet away from the "bullet mold" The inside is a bit odd and home made looking- Ideas what rifle this may have come from? Age etc... I am new to this site, so I am not sure I am doing this correctly..... Thank you again!!

 

[Martyo]

Looks like a bullet mould and a blacksmith awl or scribe.

Looks like a bullet mould and a blacksmith awl or scribe.

One of your items is a "bullet mold." Here is a similar one...

View attachment 2145104 View attachment 2145105
RARE BULLET MOLD FOR .31 CALIBER "WELLS FARGO" M-1849 COLT REVOLVER​

Thanks so much- I am posting an odd rifle butt that was found about 10 feet away, possible the 2 are linked...? Thoughts?

 

[Sandog]

Looks very much like some of the Civil War bullet molds.

 

[vpnavy]

Thanks so much- I am posting an odd rifle butt that was found about 10 feet away, possible the 2 are linked...? Thoughts?

Could be! Another great find Martyo.

 

[devldog]

Great Saves on the bullet mould and the butt plate. Congrat's!

 

[Gare]

My vote is a bullet mold

 

[Beeps in my sleep]

Looks small for a bullet mold. Maybe for fishing sinkers?

Small could indicate pistol balls

 

[Almy]

Looks small for a bullet mold. Maybe for fishing sinkers?

 

[Martyo]

Found these detecting near old mines in Northern California- Both handmade- ideas.....?

Thanks so much for the responses. The piece that was possibly identified as blacksmith awl or scribe is really strange if you look close- its very heavy and has cutmarks on the post side, like a spike....? Also the rifle butt has odd pieces inside if you zoom up. Does anyone know why that is.....? If I am not violating any rules, I would like to leave it up a few more days. Thank you all again. This sight is amazing!!

 

[Martyo]

Great Saves on the bullet mould and the butt plate. Congrat's!

Just wondering if anyone knows what the little metal movable parts are on the inside of this butt plate? I have not see one like this.....?

 

[Almy]

There were some guns that had a cavity in the wood under the butt plate. A cleaning rod was sometimes kept there (in short sections to be screwed together). Some cavities were designed to hold extra ammunition in the cavity. The plates sometimes had little access doors in them and in some the whole butt plate swung aside using one of the screws as the fulcrum.

 

[Martyo]

There were some guns that had a cavity in the wood under the butt plate. A cleaning rod was sometimes kept there (in short sections to be screwed together). Some cavities were designed to hold extra ammunition in the cavity. The plates sometimes had little access doors in them and in some the whole butt plate swung aside using one of the screws as the fulcrum.

Wow, thanks so much for the information! It is very helpful. Do you think there is any way to date that piece...? I have found other artifacts at this spot. It is an old small mining camp, that based on all the square nails I have found there had some sort of structure at one time. As far as guessing because it is in gold country, California was mid to late 1800's. Anyway, thanks again!!!

 

[searcher]

That's an interesting trapdoor butt plate.
While it may look home made now, I'm seeing something custom made by a gunsmith.
The door cut and fitment is very fine. The catch is spring loaded. Looks like the hinge was also spring loaded.
Nicely done and made so it can be fired without any of the works in the way.

 

[searcher]

The V shaped item may be an old hinge.

Notches in the post part are there to keep it from pulling out of the wood.

 

[Martyo]

The V shaped item may be an old hinge.

Notches in the post part are there to keep it from pulling out of the wood.

Really interesting observation. Quite possibly correct.

 

[Martyo]

That's an interesting trapdoor butt plate.
While it may look home made now, I'm seeing something custom made by a gunsmith.
The door cut and fitment is very fine. The catch is spring loaded. Looks like the hinge was also spring loaded.
Nicely done and made so it can be fired without any of the works in the way.

Thanks for that information! it is really intricate. Found at/near an old mining claim, so I am assuming that whoever had it didnt have a lot of money, so maybe customized themselves.....