My first Civil War bullet! Need help identifying it!

[WVCOINHUNTER]

Found this today on an old 1800's farm with Civil War history. There are a lot of different bullets on the internet, and was hoping someone would know exactly what this is. It has one ring, and is smashed a little, so I think it might be a fired bullet! I have found round balls on the property, but my first bullet! Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!!

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

I've been a relic-digger and DEALER of civil war bullets for nearly 40 years. Since you said it is your "first civil war bullet," on your behalf I spent 30 minutes combing through various books on civil war bullets -- but there's no civil war match-up for it. A couple are "close, but no cigar."

I paid close attention to its size in comparison to the quarter in the photo. Not counting the small projection on your bullet's base, it appears to be at least .95-inch long, and about .75-inch wide. Its body shape being waaay out-of-round, resembling a collapsed cylinder, suggests it was fired and hit sideways onto soft clay soil. Averaging out its current width and thickness suggests it was originally .45-caliber or smaller. The books do not show any civil war era ROUND-NOSED .45-caliber (or smaller) bullet which was .95-inch long. So, I have to assume that your bullet is from the post-civil-war era.

 

[GatorBoy]

Well done sir...
It's a good thing you do not charge a consultation fee you'd be a pricey one.... But well worth it