Someone bit the bullet!

[Digalotajunk]

Found this beauty today. It's my first 3 ringer. It's .54 cal. and seems to have uniform teeth marks on both sides. If anyone has any additional information, it would be appreciated. Found it here in Missouri, on a battlefield (permission.)

 

[Johncoho]

I have heard stories of using bullets to bite down on when they performed battlefield surgeries, but they may only be just that, stories. Nice finds regardless.

 

[Roundness]

I think it may be rodent bite marks. Looks like they are on both sides and small. I may be wrong. Great find!!!

 

[Armor9]

Interesting with teeth marks. They always said they had people bit a bullet when doing amputations, etc., wonder if that might have been the case here since I would think you'd be biting pretty hard to leave marks like that.

 

[Armor9]

I think it may be rodent bite marks. Looks like they are on both sides and small. I may be wrong. Great find!!!

When I looked at it the marks more looked like molar indentions to me. Anyone a dentist here?

 

[Roundness]

When I looked at it the marks more looked like molar indentions to me. Anyone a dentist here?

May be, but they look awful small to me. Tennessee Jeff here in middle, TN has dug a lot of rodent chewed bullets and a lot of them look like that. Check out his youtube channel. Like I said before, I might be wrong.

 

[Digalotajunk]

When I looked at it the marks more looked like molar indentions to me. Anyone a dentist here?

I agree. Does not look like rodent. They are bigger and more uniform than being nibbled. If it's an animal mark, i would think dog or coyote. I second that we need a dentist.

 

[Digalotajunk]

May be, but they look awful small to me. Tennessee Jeff here in middle, TN has dug a lot of rodent chewed bullets and a lot of them look like that. Check out his youtube channel. Like I said before, I might be wrong.

Awesome! I'll be checkin that out! Thanks

 

[Roundness]

Raccoons and opossums chew them with their back teeth and can bite down pretty hard. Everyone says the lead tastes sweet to them is why they do it. It's pure lead too so it's pretty soft. Call in the dentist...LOL

 

[Digalotajunk]

Read too much that says biting a bullet for pain is a wives tale. But, bullets have been found chewed by humans.

 

[Armor9]

Raccoons and opossums chew them with their back teeth and can bite down pretty hard. Everyone says the lead tastes sweet to them is why they do it. It's pure lead too so it's pretty soft. Call in the dentist...LOL

Did not know about lead being sweet nor about the raccoons or opossums. Interesting, learned something new.

 

[Roundness]

Read too much that says biting a bullet for pain is a wives tale. But, bullets have been found chewed by humans.

Yes they have. There was one posted on here a bit back that I am almost positive was chewed by a person. I don't think it was for pain because it was chewed all the way around next to the end. I think if I was biting a bullet for pain, it would be a solid single bite that didn't let up. I'm not the kind of man that could stand something with that much pain anyway. They would just need to shoot me and get me out of my misery. Good Luck on whatever you find.

 

[A2coins]

I think if they had to saw off my leg with a bayonet there would be nothing left of that bullet or the one who lopped off my led or arm lol interesting find