Texas Fort Site Whats-Its...

[garren]

These are some of the items I dug from a Texas fort site that I've been curious about. Was hoping some of you may recognize one or more of these.
The fort was built a few years after the civil war and used as a frontier army outpost. Abandoned in 1878.

The first two pictures are the items in question. The circular item appears to be a pin but is it military related? The small square is either bronze or brass and I have never figured out what the symbol is. Its the same on both sides.

Also attaching a photo of the other items found at the site.

 

[Tejaas]

Good to see another Texas Forts Trail buff on the forum.

I've hunted sites associated with this same fort, too.

[emoji6]


Nice finds.


~Tejaas~

 

[garren]

I've hunted sites associated with this same fort, too.

Nice! Did you have any luck?

 

[Tejaas]

Nice! Did you have any luck?

I did pretty well, yes sir.

You seem to get around a bit...

If i remember correctly, you were down in my (approximate) area a bit back... Kerrville?

I don't know you, but we seem to share a lot of common digging interest and hunt the same type of sites.

I like your style, brochacho!

 

[garren]

I did pretty well, yes sir.

You seem to get around a bit...

If i remember correctly, you were down in my (approximate) area a bit back... Kerrville?

I don't know you, but we seem to share a lot of common digging interest and hunt the same type of sites.

I like your style, brochacho!

You are correct. I did do some arrowhead hunting in your neck of the woods. I have a friend that lives in Fredericksburg who has access to a lot of places in the hill country. The next time I come hunting that way I'll send you a message! Maybe you can join us.

 

[digging440yrs]

Looks like you found a uniform shoulder scale------

 

[digging440yrs]

The small square piece reminds me of a apothecary scale weight , but unsure--------

 

[garren]

Looks like you found a uniform shoulder scale------View attachment 1315285

Yes the shoulder scales and the drumstick holder below it are two of my favorite finds from that site. Up to that point I had only found the individual scales or the big end pieces which usually looked like they had been stepped on by a horse. I was amazed to dig this one intact!

The small square piece reminds me of a apothecary scale weight , but unsure--------View attachment 1315286

Wow! You nailed the apothecary weight! That is super cool! After I oriented it the right way I could see the "3i" which signifies one drachm.

 

[Subterranean]

Awesome collection of military memorabilia, congrats on a great hunt. Sub

 

[burglarifyoulike]

I agree with 440, the small square looks like weight for an apothecary type scale- my dad actually used ones like that in Chem lab when he was in college. Not sure about the symbol.

 

[Lafitte Deux]

The circular pin looks like a US infantry hat badge.

 

[DCMatt]

I was researching something else and saw this.



It is an 18th C fur trade brooch. But the construction was so similar to your relic that I had to post it. Maybe yours is a 19th C version?

Those two screw adjust items are very curious. What does the other end look like?

Also, the item on the far right is a lipstick tube cover - early 20th C.

DCMatt

 

[garren]

I was researching something else and saw this.

View attachment 1317909

It is an 18th C fur trade brooch. But the construction was so similar to your relic that I had to post it. Maybe yours is a 19th C version?

Those two screw adjust items are very curious. What does the other end look like?

Also, the item on the far right is a lipstick tube cover - early 20th C.

DCMatt

Thanks Matt.

I'm starting to think the threaded items are looking a lot like gun cleaning brushes. Maybe the pull through kind, but why threaded? Maybe to change the lanyard when it broke? If its the type of cleaning brush that threads onto a rod then whats the piece already on the threads?

I'm posting three more pics of mine then a couple of images from the web for reference.

 

[2b.a.searcher]

Garren
Looks like you had a great day digging! Cool stuff
The two items just below the 8" mark appear to rifle cleaning parts. The M1873 carbine .45 cal. had very similar looking cleaning parts (cleaning brush threaded and a barracks rod).
The brush is missing and the wooden rod has rotted away or broke off. Just my 2cnts worth...

Allen

 

[DCMatt]

I think the issued rifle at the time was a 45-70.

I was thinking rifle item as well but had not yet matched it.

Garren
Looks like you had a great day digging! Cool stuff
The two items just below the 8" mark appear to rifle cleaning parts. The M1873 carbine .45 cal. had very similar looking cleaning parts (cleaning brush threaded and a barracks rod).
The brush is missing and the wooden rod has rotted away or broke off. Just my 2cnts worth...

Allen

 

[DCMatt]

I think you are on the right track with your latest pics. The piece is threaded because it is/was two distinct parts assembled for cleaning the rifle. The 'rod end' actually had a leather thong so soldiers could carry it in a saddle bag for field cleaning. This was a result of lessons learned from the Custer fiasco. (Edit: Fiasco is a term of perspective. Growing up under the watchful eye of a "raised on the reservation Comanche" I learned that, from the perspective of the tribes who fought him, Custer was a dirt bag who got what he deserved at Little Bighorn.)

Very cool stuff. I learned things today and that always a good thing.

DCMatt

P.S. Send a PM to TheCannonballGuy. He may be interested in your finds and/or have additional information.

 

[garren]

Garren
Looks like you had a great day digging! Cool stuff
The two items just below the 8" mark appear to rifle cleaning parts. The M1873 carbine .45 cal. had very similar looking cleaning parts (cleaning brush threaded and a barracks rod).
The brush is missing and the wooden rod has rotted away or broke off. Just my 2cnts worth...

Allen

I think the issued rifle at the time was a 45-70.

I was thinking rifle item as well but had not yet matched it.

That makes sense. I was looking for an image but didn't find one. However, in my search I read where wooden wiping rods had also been issued for the 45-70.

 

[garren]

I found a pic that shows the thong had the threaded brass ferrule too. The brush could be screwed onto a wooden cleaning rod or the thong. I think we've solved this one.