The Rarest Confederate Relic I've Ever Found... And I Didn't Have To Dig It!!

[FoxHound0985]

So I've always been just as much of an urban treasure hunter for most of my life. My particular area of interest is military stuff, mostly Civil War weapons and relics. Well, I came across what is hands down the rarest Confederate relic I've ever held in my hands. It's a bullet mold for a very rare Confederate Sharps variant called a "Rocker Base Sharps". The bullets are mainly found in Confederate camps in Texas and Arkansas. The dug bullets go for upwards of $100 each! I can't even begin to guess what this bullet mold is worth, but I know it's a lot! I haven't been able to find another example of this particular mold. Knowing how rare the bullets are, it's not out of the realm of possibility that this could be the only one that's still in existence. Amazingly, it's still in excellent condition and still casts nearly a perfect bullet! This is exactly the reason why I love thrift stores, antique shops and flea markets. You never know treasure you'll find for a super cheap price! It just amazes me to think that of what this awesome piece of history has seen in 150+ years and how it ended up in someone's junk box at a flea market. Thanks for looking and HH!

PF

 

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[FoxHound0985]

Wow congratulations! It is in such beautiful shape too. I am happy to see it found a proper home rather than just residing in a junk box, enjoy!

Steve

P.S. Now you just need a Sharps so you can fire those bullets if you haven't already got one.

I've actually been pricing Sharps rifles, but man are they expensive! Unfortunately, these bullets are for a .52 caliber sharps and the reproduction rifles are .54 caliber.

 

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[FoxHound0985]

I hope that having the ability to produce that rare Sharps Variant and making dozens or more of them, does not adversely affect the price of the ones dug from Battle/Skirmish sites!

That thought was not lost on me. I've had a ton of people wanting one of these bullets for their collection, and I had decided to sell some. So to combat the possibility of someone burying them for a while and trying to pass them off as original, I have started stamping an "R" (repro) on the bottom of all the bullets I planned to sell. It's not foolproof, but hopefully it keeps people honest.

 

[FoxHound0985]

Nice find. I would have to purchase one of the actual Civil War era bullets to display with it. I always think of finding Civil War stuff in places like that. Years ago, at one outdoor auction at a period home a few miles from a Civil War battlefield, I purchased a McClellan saddle and a bayonet.
From the same sale my brother purchased Confederate saddlebags. Could have been battlefield pickups. Altogether, I think we paid maybe 25 dollars. My other brother bought a jar of buttons for five dollars once and found a non-dug rare Confederate button. He ended up selling that one for $1200.00. Been to hundreds and hundreds of sales of all types over the years but rarely ever find any Civil War items.

That's awesome! People don't realize how much rare stuff is still out there to be found at flea markets, yard sales, antique shops and other places like that. I find a lot of rare items at flea markets, but rarely ever Civil War. I did find a pair of non-dug Confederate buttons for $5 at the same flea market that I traded for a Civil War revolver. This mold is by far the best thing I have ever found though, and maybe ever will!

 

[FoxHound0985]

Killer find!
Are there any stampings or marks on the
bullet mold?
Again, killer, killer find!
Carl

Thank you! The only marking I was able to find on it was a small letter "K" stamped just below the hinge pin. I have no idea what it stands for though. It's probably just an inspector's marking if I were to guess.

 

[Whyme]

Wow super awesome find! Congrats!

 

[tnt-hunter]

That is a fantastic find. Right place, right time, and right person who knew what it was. It’s great that you are willing to provide a rare bullet for collectors and a great idea to stamp them to help keep people honest. In my experience most people are honest, but it only takes one bad apple to mess things up for everyone else.

Way to go.

 

[Kona Koma]

A tremendous find and part of history. Great job!

 

[trdking]

Well now you can make a career out of casting bullets and seeding them on old battle fields? Who would know?

 

[dansalata]

congrats and ye
s ya just never know!!!

 

[UnderMiner]

Yo, find a dug Civil War bullet of that same variant and see if the imperfection markings line up with the newly cast bullet's imperfections, you may have found the same mold used to make the ones that people are digging up in the fields! How cool would that be!? This find is awesome! Urban treasure hunting is best treasure hunting!

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Killer find, congrats!

 

[Salty]

Awesome treasure! Congrats!

 

[huntsman53]

Well now you can make a career out of casting bullets and seeding them on old battle fields? Who would know?

Well, as rare as they are and have been for 100 + years, then someone would know something is up! Besides, he would destroy the value of every dug or un-dug specimen ever found, sold, purchased and/or for sale.

 

[diggerdeeper]

That's awesome! People don't realize how much rare stuff is still out there to be found at flea markets, yard sales, antique shops and other places like that. I find a lot of rare items at flea markets, but rarely ever Civil War. I did find a pair of non-dug Confederate buttons for $5 at the same flea market that I traded for a Civil War revolver. This mold is by far the best thing I have ever found though, and maybe ever will!

You got that right about flea markets and yard sales.
Years ago, I found two artillery shells at a flea market that looked CW to me.
Turns out they were Indian War era Eureka shells. But at $15 ea. I wasn't complaining !

 

[CMDiamonddawg]

Unique !1
Your examples are a potential money maker for years to come .
If I was a collector , I would drop whatever $ USD to get one .
Thanks for sharing ....

 

[cdickrun64]

You should make bullets and sell them for $20 each....that mold is your personal ATM

 

[Davers]

That's one heck of a thrift store SCORE!!!

 

[FoxHound0985]

Thanks again everyone! I actually made up a nice certificate for the ones I plan to sell on eBay. Instead of going with the "R" on the base, I started stamping them with the number corresponding to the certificate. One of my friends really wanted one of these, so I put his birthday on the certificate and gave it to him.

 

[Madmox]

Thank you! The only marking I was able to find on it was a small letter "K" stamped just below the hinge pin. I have no idea what it stands for though. It's probably just an inspector's marking if I were to guess.

It would surprise me if that was an inspectors mark and not the touchmark of the blacksmith that made it. Given I don’t really know but I would expect that the military production of bullets would happen on a far larger scale than one at a time.

 

[relichound]

Awesome save and priceless invaluable history behind that civil war bullet mold!👍