My First Civil War Camp

[ringking76]

I thought this might be a round from a Sharps carbine,it doesn't have a firing cap or stamping like modern ammo and it is short like a carbine the lead looks brittle though.

 

[BosnMate]

It's a necked down rim fire cartridge, which someone surely will know what it is. I've found that really old dug cartridges, the ones that used copper cases loaded with black powder and a lead bullet, must have electrolysis take place between the copper and lead metals, or perhaps something that was used in the lead back then, like antimony to harden the bullet, what ever it is, causes the lead to degrade and crumble. Chemically I don't really know why, it's just something I've found when recovering early loaded 45-70 cartridges. It's an interesting find, and I'm also wanting to know what cartridge it is -- I'm wildly guessing it's an early Sharps cartridge.

 

[DigIron2]

I think BosnMate is right with sharp's,either that or possibly a spencer.

 

[coinman123]

Very nice old bullet!

 

[pistol-pete]

It is a rimfire, and fairly long for most rimfires, and appears to necked. My guess is 41 Swiss Vetterli, 1890's. Without measurements in huntreds of an inch, it would be be hard to identify positively.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Looks like Pete is correct: a .41 Swiss Rimfire. Vetterli Rifle. Post CW but barely.