Trigger mechanism?

[BenVa68]

I took a friend to my 1800s home site after work yesterday for a couple hours and we both had some great finds. 2 buttons, 2 indian head pennies, 1900 & 1859. a silver ring with a horse head embossed on the front and what i believe to be a Civil War pistol bullet. I will post the measurements this evening. It was just too late when i got home last night. I have also found a dropped Enfield bullet at this location. This piece looks to me to be part of an older style rifle. It is brass and about 2 1/2" long. I know the pictures aren't great but i will take some more tonight. Does anyone know for sure if this is part of a rifle and if so from what type might it be ?

 

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[Red James Cash]

Brass is too soft for internal gun parts.The parts would wear out too fast.Brass was usually for the external parts.

 

[BenVa68]

Thanks for the reply. I wondered about that also. I am fairly certain it's brass. I haven't tried to clean it up or anything yet but it did come up as brass on my MD.

 

[BenVa68]

Possibly this?

Kinda looks like part #26 but hard to tell for sure.

 

[Batch]

My first thought was a ratchet pawl from something like a manual boat winch (brass wouldn't rust) or a "come-a-long" (cable puller).

However, your mileage may vary...

Respectfully,

Batch

 

[DCMatt]

Maybe a part from a mortise lock. Lots of brass in them and there were hundreds of variations over the years. Not an uncommon find at older house sites...

 

[Batch]

I think DCMatt nailed it (again!). I withdraw my ratchet pawl guess.

Happy hunting to all!

Batch

 

[Phishfarmer]

I was thinking pawl also. A curve with a catch says pawl to me.

 

[cudamark]

Looks like part of a gate latch to me.

 

[l.cutler]

Definitely not a gun part, the other thoughts are good possibilities though.

 

[NOLA_Ken]

I think it's part of an old cabinet latch, similar to a type called an "elbow catch" I had similar ones in my old house