Sharps Bullet in a Burnside Cartridge!!!

[MonkeyBoy]

Hello All,

Got out today for a few hours with the Pitdiggers! I thought I had finally dug a complete Burnside cartridge but.. after cleaning and with some help it turns out I dug two burnside cartridges stuck together with a sharps bullet inserted into them backwards!! That is how they came out of the ground. If you look at the sharps you can see where the part of the bullet that was inside of the cartridge is not white like the rest of the bullet. I included a few pictures.. together and apart, you can make out the remaining part of the second burnside and see the difference on the bullet where it was in the case versus expose to the ground. I also found a .69 3 Ringer and a few odds and ends type of house site find nearby. All in all.. a pretty cool find!!

MonkeyBoy

 

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[davidtn]

Very different and very cool.

 

[VOL1266-X]

MB, a relic dealer once showed me a relic that was dug with a Sharps Bullet inserted upside down into a Sharps Cartridge but yours is a first for me. Rare Find!!! HH.

 

[Dman]

That's an different kind of find. Congrats.
Dman

 

[l.cutler]

That is an interesting find. One problem with the Burnside carbine was removing the spent cartridge. Upon firing the empty cartridge would stick in the breechblock. Troopers would often use another empty shell to stick inside the one in the breechblock and pull it out. Somebody used the Sharps bullet to remove the first shell, then left the first empty on and used it again to remove the second.

 

[MonkeyBoy]

That is an interesting find. One problem with the Burnside carbine was removing the spent cartridge. Upon firing the empty cartridge would stick in the breechblock. Troopers would often use another empty shell to stick inside the one in the breechblock and pull it out. Somebody used the Sharps bullet to remove the first shell, then left the first empty on and used it again to remove the second.

I have read about them "sticking".. but that is a good theory.. and sort of explains it. I was honestly a little disappointed when I realized, er when it was pointed out to me what it was, I dug a bunch of dropped Burnside a month ago.. none whole and really wanted one.. but now it is one of the cooler things I have dug in a long time to me.. even has it's own little display case!!! Thanks for the info..

MB

 

[CRUSADER]

That is an interesting find. One problem with the Burnside carbine was removing the spent cartridge. Upon firing the empty cartridge would stick in the breechblock. Troopers would often use another empty shell to stick inside the one in the breechblock and pull it out. Somebody used the Sharps bullet to remove the first shell, then left the first empty on and used it again to remove the second.

Good explaination, I was puzzelling over this one until I scrolled down.

Interesting piece of history!

 

[Woodland Detectors]

Very cool indeed! Interesting

 

[civilman1]

Talk about something wild Mark.....definetly a coversation piece.Very Cool Dig Buddy

 

[allen]

congrats on that awesome find !!!!

 

[tymcmurray]

Nice find. I certainly would not have known
what to make of it.

 

[johnreb1980]

Nice finds, I would put the bullet back in the cartridge and display it like that.

 

[MonkeyBoy]

Nice finds, I would put the bullet back in the cartridge and display it like that.

I did!! It is all nicely tucked away in it's own display case ;-)

MB

 

[BuckleBoy]

Well I guess what I'm wondering--and I don't know if anyone else might be wondering this...is if that contraption could've been fired...

Was the black powder still in that burnside casing?


But why do that if you had a usable burnside to begin with? Maybe just the product of boredom in a camp or picket post...


I just saw that they were likely the same caliber and wondered...


-Buckles

 

[Monty]

I have seen and examined thousands of cartridges old and new and I've never seen one like that! The explanation sounds plausable though. I've read where they found muskets (muzzle loaders) that were charged 3 or 4 times and never fired, because the soldiers got so nervous he couldn't remember loading it. Neat find. Monty

 

[pitdiggers]

Hey MonkeyBoy,

Had a blast as usual.. and sorry I kinda had to point out it was a sharps not a burnside !!! Can't wait till we get out diggin' again.

 

[MonkeyBoy]

Talk about something wild Mark.....definetly a coversation piece.Very Cool Dig Buddy
[/quote

Thanks Joe!This one had be puzzled.. Pitdiggers ID'ed it.. it's now my favorite 2009 find!!


Mark

 

[MonkeyBoy]

Nice find. I certainly would not have known
what to make of it.

Ha, me either!! You can see the base is either rotten or pounded a little... I never even thought Sharps till Pitdiggers Son #1 said " That's a sharps!" ;-)

Mark

 

[MonkeyBoy]

Hey MonkeyBoy,

Had a blast as usual.. and sorry I kinda had to point out it was a sharps not a burnside !!! Can't wait till we get out diggin' again.

Goes to show.. no matter how pounded out a spot is.. always something cool to find.. and No.. it was good you pointed that out..seeing the Burnside cartridge that was all i was thinking.. finally found a whole one.. this is even cooler!! To me it's as good a a nice carved bullet etc... so I'm glad you did.

mark

 

[crazyjarhead]

unusual find. Looks like someone was bored Still a cool find