Need ID of items found around CW area

Teamroper · Oct 28, 2013

We found 23 CW bullets in this area and these items also came up but we don't know what they are. Does anyone out there have any idea what they are. Thanks ahead of time for any info.

TNGUNS · Oct 28, 2013

Hey Teamroper, The one on the right looks like a CW Minnie ball (bullet). If you read the "sticky" at the top of the "What Is It" forum" it will help you a great deal in getting an ID. Many of the guys that are really great at ID's won't even try as you haven't given them anyway to reference size. A .69 caliber and a .58 are two completely different animals but look similar in a picture. Think there is little doubt the bullet is CW but again they can tell you a lot more about it with the measurements. Congrats. :icon_thumleft:

Teamroper · Oct 28, 2013

OK. Thanks for the info. The bullet is a .58 cal. We just put it in for size reference.

parsonwalker · Oct 28, 2013

Your brass items are most likely the remains of CW burnside cartridge casings. Quite a nice find!Google Image Result for http://p2.la-img.com/1044/20374/6956245_1_l.jpg

TheCannonballGuy · Oct 28, 2013

Actually, the correct ID of your finds is civil war era .50-caliber Gallager casings and the distinctive tapering-base bullet which fit into them, manufactured only by the firm of Samuel Jackson. They are shown on page 29 of the "Handbook Of Civil War Bullets & Cartridges" by James E. Thomas and Dean S. Thomas. It's a must-have book for anybody who digs civil war military sites. In particular, it corrects many mis-identifications in the McKee-&-Mason book, which hasn't been updated since the 1970s.

parsonwalker · Oct 28, 2013

TheCannonballGuy said:
Actually, the correct ID of your finds is civil war era .50-caliber Gallager casings and the distinctive tapering-base bullet which fit into them, manufactured only by the firm of Samuel Jackson. They are shown on page 29 of the "Handbook Of Civil War Bullets & Cartridges" by James E. Thomas and Dean S. Thomas. It's a must-have book for anybody who digs civil war military sites. In particular, it corrects many mis-identifications in the McKee-&-Mason book, which hasn't been updated since the 1970s.

I stand corrected - and EDUCATED!