Pinfire bullets.

[DigginDownUnder]

I've found several pinfire bullets over the last few weeks from one site.
I'm hoping someone could give me a rough idea of the era these particular type would date to.

I'm 90 percent sure they are .50 cal

The site has yielded early to late 1800's relics.



Thanks for any help.

 

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[calisdad]

1823 to 1860 it says here: IgnitionPIN

cool find

 

[tamrock]

It is a cool find

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

The IgnitionPIN website is correct in saying Pinfire cartridges became obsolete in the 1860s, when Rimfire (and shortly afterward, Centerfire) cartridges became the preferred version of bullet cartridges. However, because people still owned many-many thousands of Pinfire-ignition firearms, large quantities of Pinfire cartridges continued to be manufactured for several decades after the 1860s. As the IgnitionPIN website says on its 12mm-cartridges webpage, "They have been obsolete since the early-1900s."
12mmPinfireRifle

So, DigginDownUnder, the only way the 12mm Pinfire cartridges you found can be accurately dated is if they have a maker's-mark stamped on their base. The link given to you by Calisdad (IgnitionPIN) has some info about that.

Also, because you are digging in Australia, you'll need Pinfire maker's-mark info from the four countries which manufactured "most" of the Pinfire cartridges (France, Britain, Germany, and the US). Here's a link about a US-made 12mm Pinfire cartridge with a very unusual maker's-mark (with photos):
THE CARTRIDGE COLLECTOR

Here is time-dating info (with photos) about one of the French manufacturers of pinfire cartridges, Fabrique Gevelot. Note, there are several variations of that company's marking, which date from 1832 through the 1880s. Scroll down to almost the end of the webpage.
THE CARTRIDGE COLLECTOR

Here's some info (and photos) about an 1880s/90s German maker-marked pinfire cartridge. Again, scroll down to almost the end of the webpage.
THE CARTRIDGE COLLECTOR

 

[DigginDownUnder]

Thank you so much for your time cannonballguy

Under a microscope I can make out what looks like "?2mm??" I'm guessing 12mm, it is centrally located. on another I can only make an "x" located close to the edge.

Very difficult to see.


Should I clean them, or better left as is?


If there's a chance these come from the mid 1860's I'm stoked, I know it's a long shot but I could be on the right track to this guys final days Dan Morgan (bushranger) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia