Miscast 3-ringer

TrpnBils · Mar 21, 2016

Found this and an 188? indian tonight at a new home site. The nearby bridge was burned 3x during the Civil War so it makes sense that some high ground overlooking this part of the creek might have been a camp site. This came in a little low on the 3030 (12-30/31). If you flip it over, the bullet isn't full (it's about 1/2 of a normal bullet) but has some overflown lead at the tip. Almost threw it away before I brushed it off and saw the rings!

Fullstock · Mar 21, 2016

It looks like it's been partially melted in a fire.

DigIron2 · Mar 21, 2016

neat find.

curbdiggercarl57 · Mar 21, 2016

It looks to me like it was carved to look like a beehive or an Acorn, Maybe, possibly?
Either way, great find!
Carl

parsonwalker · Mar 21, 2016

The prevailing wisdom is that soldiers often opened their cartridges (paper or pig gut) and used the powder to start fires when things were damp. Their bullets, now useless were often tossed into the fire where they fully or partially melted. From what I've read and heard, it was pretty rare to have soldiers making their own bullets in camp. Especially union 3 ringers (Maybe odd calibers or pistol bullets). Anyway, this is always a better find in my book, because the bullet has a better story to tell! I only have a few partially melted (where you can still tell what it is) Well done!

TrpnBils · Mar 21, 2016

parsonwalker said:
The prevailing wisdom is that soldiers often opened their cartridges (paper or pig gut) and used the powder to start fires when things were damp. Their bullets, now useless were often tossed into the fire where they fully or partially melted. From what I've read and heard, it was pretty rare to have soldiers making their own bullets in camp. Especially union 3 ringers (Maybe odd calibers or pistol bullets). Anyway, this is always a better find in my book, because the bullet has a better story to tell! I only have a few partially melted (where you can still tell what it is) Well done!

Cool - I am absolutely not a relic guy, but I was hunting with one when I pulled this so I was going off of his assessment of it, but either way I'm happy with it!