✅ SOLVED Minie ball-Carved or chewed?

[DownNDirty]

I found this bullet a few days ago at a site where I have found over 40 dropped Union bullets. It has either been carved with the tip of a knife by a soldier or chewed by a small animal. I'm thinking it was carved but would like other opinions. Thanks!

 

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[DownNDirty]

Here it is next to an uncarved minie

 

[gunsil]

Chewed. Those are tooth marks all over it.

 

[MUD(S.W.A.T)]

Chewed by what, a beaver ? Looks carved to me...

 

[DownNDirty]

They do look like tooth marks, but I'm not sure if any animal would continue to chew it that much and from different angles. Unless of course they like the taste of lead. lol

 

[GaRebel1861]

I've heard that hogs will root them up and chew on them thinking they are an acorn or other nut.

 

[Tony in SC]

Squirels like to chew lead. I have a problem here in the upstate. I have to cover my batteries on my winches, If I don't the critters will chew the posts off. Tony

 

[gunsil]

Those are definitely rodent tooth marks, see the same ones on bone and antlers found in the woods regularly.

 

[flinthunter]

I agree with gunsil and Tony in SC 100%. Rodent chews. See it on antler, lead, and bone all the time.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Gunsil first, then Tony In SC, and Flinthunter are quite right, your Minie-bullet is rodent-gnawed. The reason the rodents (such as squirrels, rabbits, etc,) gnaw the lead so much is that thin shavings of lead taste sweet. That is why the ancient Romans used lead shavings to sweeten their wine. The brain-damage/insanity caused by frequent drinking of the lead-sweetened wine is thought to be one of the reasons for the decline of the Roman Empire.

 

[relic nut]

Gunsil first, then Tony In SC, and Flinthunter are quite right, your Minie-bullet is rodent-gnawed. The reason the rodents (such as squirrels, rabbits, etc,) gnaw the lead so much is that thin shavings of lead taste sweet. That is why the ancient Romans used lead shavings to sweeten their wine. The brain-damage/insanity caused by frequent drinking of the lead-sweetened wine is thought to be one of the reasons for the decline of the Roman Empire.

Great history lesson CG, I think they still do that in DC

HH, Relic Nut

 

[d2]

I saw one listed on ebay as a "pain bullet" I sent the seller a question asking if it had not been chewed upon by a rodent of some type and he said it had been chewed on by a human. Why someone would lie for a dollar is beyond me. I have several chewed on bullets mostly by rodents and hogs and one chewed almost flat, looks like a piece of spit out gum, that a dentist told me had human teeth marks in it. I don't think it's a "pain bullet" I think it was a round ball that a soldier chewed on while in a battle line...d2

 

[Patriot Relics]

I saw one listed on ebay as a "pain bullet" I sent the seller a question asking if it had not been chewed upon by a rodent of some type and he said it had been chewed on by a human. Why someone would lie for a dollar is beyond me. I have several chewed on bullets mostly by rodents and hogs and one chewed almost flat, looks like a piece of spit out gum, that a dentist told me had human teeth marks in it. I don't think it's a "pain bullet" I think it was a round ball that a soldier chewed on while in a battle line...d2

Spot on D2, so many sellers perpetuate the myth of the "pain bullet". I've researched it extensively and found 0 period descriptions of biting on lead bullets to cope with a wound. Looks like a squirrel went wild on that one Glenn

 

[DownNDirty]

Gunsil first, then Tony In SC, and Flinthunter are quite right, your Minie-bullet is rodent-gnawed. The reason the rodents (such as squirrels, rabbits, etc,) gnaw the lead so much is that thin shavings of lead taste sweet. That is why the ancient Romans used lead shavings to sweeten their wine. The brain-damage/insanity caused by frequent drinking of the lead-sweetened wine is thought to be one of the reasons for the decline of the Roman Empire.

Thanks Cannonballguy and to everyone else who contributed. Great information!