What happened to this CW Bullet?

[Breezie]

Afternoon everybuddy, What happened to this CW roundball to make a stem in the middle? The depth is about 1/4 of an inch. Thanks, Breezie

 

[umrgolf]

field-made nipple protector

 

[cavtrooper]

It was put on the cone(nipple, where the percussion cap went) of a musket and the hammer allowed to come down on it. What you see on the one side the is the impression of the nipple, on the other side is the impression of the hammer. These were used to protect the nipple from damage from the hammer while marching.

 

[duggap]

Breezie, that would be considered a pretty neat find. In all my years I have only dug two of those.

 

[Breezie]

Wooooo Hoooooo!!! Thanks for the replies and GREAT explanation. Breezie

 

[Silver Searcher]

Wooooo Hoooooo!!! Thanks for the replies and GREAT explanation. Breezie

Cool find Breezie not your run of the mill Musket ball

SS

 

[ivan salis]

yep nipple protector --by using it you could keep your gun loaded and the powder charge would not leak out or get wet / damp while marching along-- for safety reasons you would not want to have a primer cap on a loaded guns nipple -- where a jolt might make it go off by accident while marching * --so these nipple protectors fit the bill nicely -- they kept the powder load intact and dry while marching -- however if ones group suddenly bumped into the enemy --one just cocked back the hammer while removing the protector then you put on a primer cap and the "pre loaded gun" was ready to go .

a rare & nice find

also having the hammmer sit "directly" upon the nipple as one marched could flatten the top of the nipple (from the guns spring loaded hammer bouncing and impacting upon the nipple as one marched along) -- thus making it hard or impossible to fit a primer cap on the nipple --(not a good thing in combat ) --the nipple protector cushioned the nipple top from the hammer while marching -- thus preventing this damage from occuring.