X-Post: Finds from an 1840's Trading Post site.

Iron Buzz

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I posted this on the What Is It forum, but it seems that there is very little cross-over from forum to forum here, so when I discovered this group tonight, it occurred to me that I might get some fresh, and well-informed eyes helping me out.

Can you guys take a look at this and let me know what you think?

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/what/614933-1840-s-trading-post-finds.html

Thanks!
 

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1. Could be a chisel with broken tip. 2. Butt plate fragment later than a N.W. trade gun. 3. Lug from a cast iron cooking pot. 4. Hook. 5. Broken pulley. 6. Flattened-out musket shot.
All finds seem to fit the 1840's time frame well.
 

Cool find looks like a saddle part with the curly part bent a little
 

1. Could be a chisel with broken tip. 2. Butt plate fragment later than a N.W. trade gun. 3. Lug from a cast iron cooking pot. 4. Hook. 5. Broken pulley. 6. Flattened-out musket shot.
All finds seem to fit the 1840's time frame well.
That's one hell of a big flattened out musket shot!!
 

That's one hell of a big flattened out musket shot!!
I've seen them flattened out to about 2"...........but, it could very well be something else!

Iowa Dale
 

that chisel looking thing could be a tamper for lead plumbing joints.
 

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I've seen them flattened out to about 2"...........but, it could very well be something else!

Iowa Dale

I don't know why I didn't think to weigh it before, but it weighs 1.9 oz. / 54 grams (I guess that would be 833 grains?) if that helps.
 

that chisel looking thing could be a tamper for lead plumbing joints.
Granted, there is some possibility of cross-contamination at any site, but did they have plumbing in the 1840s?
 

Just weighed a large (52) calibre musket shot and it was around 32 grams. Can't tell from a picture but with the weight we can cancel that out.
Traders often made their own bales from scrap lead and some flat lead disks were made as gaming pieces.
 

ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1567742981.975938.webp
I’ve got a similar piece from a trade site I have dated to 1830-1840
 

View attachment 1750180
I’ve got a similar piece from a trade site I have dated to 1830-1840

Boy, that is awfully similar, isn't it? Except that on my piece, its not a loop, but a pigtail, or spiral. I've got three books on cast iron pans, and have scoured the internet for pictures of copper and carbon steel pots and pans and haven't seen one yet with a spiral piece for the bail. That's what strikes me as odd about mine.
 

Yeah I saw that difference too, I can’t help with that but two similar items identified as trade items from the mid 1800’s is a good sign we’ve got correct interpretations. Mine has also produced gun parts and odd lead items
 

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