Zaxfire69,This Ones For You-Dug a French Pin Fire Cartridge TODAY

VOL1266-X · Jan 3, 2011

Zaxfire69,This One's For You-Dug a French Pin Fire Cartridge TODAY

I had planned to go to a U.S. site today or visit Dman who is still under the weather. As he already had company and it was a sunny day in the upper 40s in Tennessee. I decided to hunt 2 or 3 hours at Morgan's 1862 camp close to home instead of driving to the U.S. camp. Now, here's the VERY weird part.
Just before I left, I responded to and congratulated Zaxfire69 for his recovery of a rare CW shotgun pin fire cartridge. Dman and I have only dug 4 or 5 pin fire pistol bullets between us and any pin fire bullet, cartridge, or fully assembled shells are rare finds here. I recall Buckleboy telling me that he has only found one pin fire cartridge in the thousands of relics that I know he's dug. In other words, finding anything pin fire happens only every blue moon in the Western Theater of the CW.
I hunted almost 3 hours at Morgan's CSA camp. I dug 2 damaged Confederate Gardners (what a shame), a dropped .69 cal. round ball, and the copper cartridge from the French Lefauchex pin fire pistol bullet in the pic. They are recovered with either brass or copper cases according to our friend Rafael Eldridge at Shiloh Relics.
What are the odds? I should have played the lottery today. HH, Quindy.

civilman1 · Jan 3, 2011

Re: Zaxfire69,This One's For You-Dug a French Pin Fire Cartridge TODAY

Too wierd Quindy...I was just doing a little research on Zax's 12ga. pin fire and came back and saw this

Excellent dig my man :thumbsup:

Missouri_John · Jan 3, 2011

Re: Zaxfire69,This One's For You-Dug a French Pin Fire Cartridge TODAY

I consider myself very lucky to have found 2 pinfire cartridges with the bullet still attached, and both out of fields that have been farmed since the beginning of man

ModernMiner · Jan 3, 2011

Re: Zaxfire69,This One's For You-Dug a French Pin Fire Cartridge TODAY

Enlighten me Q-man.
What's a pin fire cartridge? :icon_scratch:

Yes, I'm still learning.
-Grasshopper-

sekypaleo · Jan 3, 2011

Re: Zaxfire69,This One's For You-Dug a French Pin Fire Cartridge TODAY

Wow...great find Quindy! :icon_thumright:

wettpaint · Jan 3, 2011

Re: Zaxfire69,This One's For You-Dug a French Pin Fire Cartridge TODAY

Zaxfire may not see this for a little while, I hear he has his hands full with a new little relic hunter.

Dixiedigger · Jan 3, 2011

Re: Zaxfire69,This One's For You-Dug a French Pin Fire Cartridge TODAY

Congrats Quindy, you did better than me, I didn't get to go.

VOL1266-X · Jan 3, 2011

Re: Zaxfire69,This One's For You-Dug a French Pin Fire Cartridge TODAY

ModernMiner said:
Enlighten me Q-man.
What's a pin fire cartridge? Yes, I'm still learning.
-Grasshopper-

O.K., take this cartridge from my hand Jack Wagon. Pin fire weapons and ammunition were imported from France and Belghum before ,during, and after the CW. They were favorite Private purchases for back up pistols carried by CS and US officers. See the little "tit" protruding from the cartridge. The pin fire weapons had a hammer that offset the barrel and hit the protrusion thus firing the weapon as opposed to rim fire cartridges. Any other questions? Thanks for your interest. HH, Quindy.

ModernMiner · Jan 3, 2011

Re: Zaxfire69,This One's For You-Dug a French Pin Fire Cartridge TODAY

VOL1266-X said:
ModernMiner said:

Enlighten me Q-man.
What's a pin fire cartridge? Yes, I'm still learning.
-Grasshopper-

Click to expand...

O.K., take this cartridge from my hand Jack Wagon. Pin fire weapons and ammunition were imported from France and Belghum before ,during, and after the CW. They were favorite Private purchases for back up pistols carried by CS and US officers. See the little "tit" protruding from the cartridge. The pin fire weapons had a hammer that offset the barrel and hit the protrusion thus firing the weapon as opposed to rim fire cartridges. Any other questions? Thanks for your interest. HH, Quindy.

Ahhhh, now I've got it. Very well explained wise owl. :icon_thumleft:

Thanks Q.
I've learned so much on this site. :hello2:

-Dug-

CMDiamonddawg · Jan 3, 2011

Re: Zaxfire69,This One's For You-Dug a French Pin Fire Cartridge TODAY

Great lead :headbang:

Never heard of a pin fire cart. , how about that :icon_scratch:

Interesting , I see a little tit as well :thumbsup:

Thanks Quindy

kuger · Jan 3, 2011

Re: Zaxfire69,This One's For You-Dug a French Pin Fire Cartridge TODAY

Weird deal Quindy!!As I said in the other post I have only found two myself(one complete)
The primer is actually internal,and on the opposite side of the pin

VOL1266-X · Jan 3, 2011

Re: Zaxfire69,This One's For You-Dug a French Pin Fire Cartridge TODAY

kuger said:
Weird deal Quindy!!As I said in the other post I have only found two myself(one complete)
The primer is actually internal,and on the opposite side of the pin

It's very interesting that you are finding them in the wild west Cody. This is the only incomplete one that we have dug. Thanks for the info. my friend and may many gold nuggets fall your way in 2011, Quindy.

rebelrouser · Jan 3, 2011

Re: Zaxfire69,This One's For You-Dug a French Pin Fire Cartridge TODAY

sure glad you got out and found some relics. look forward to seeing your relics you find.. hope Dman gets well soon and you both have a great year.

staydetuned · Jan 3, 2011

Re: Zaxfire69,This One's For You-Dug a French Pin Fire Cartridge TODAY

Very cool!

But I'm a bit confused; I didn't realize they were so rare. Are there more common or commonly found types? I've found a handful in random places out here in California, including one in an Oakland park (and I think at least one more from old park turf.) And Cody, a good 5+ in one hunt at Bill's Pinfire Peak, which he theorizes was an Englishman's homestead. All those were the smaller guage, whereas the ones I'd found before were mostly 12 guage. I should dig them up and see...

I knew they were fairly uncommon, but to hear all of you accomplished hunters having only found one or two, especially back east, is surprising. Or maybe these are a different type? If not I feel much better about my finds, and much luckier!

Thanks for any info, if ya know... :thumbsup:

Jayson

VOL1266-X · Jan 4, 2011

Re: Zaxfire69,This One's For You-Dug a French Pin Fire Cartridge TODAY

staydetuned said:
Very cool!

But I'm a bit confused; I didn't realize they were so rare. Are there more common or commonly found types? I've found a handful in random places out here in California, including one in an Oakland park (and I think at least one more from old park turf.) And Cody, a good 5+ in one hunt at Bill's Pinfire Peak, which he theorizes was an Englishman's homestead. All those were the smaller guage, whereas the ones I'd found before were mostly 12 guage. I should dig them up and see...

I knew they were fairly uncommon, but to hear all of you accomplished hunters having only found one or two, especially back east, is surprising. Or maybe these are a different type? If not I feel much better about my finds, and much luckier! Thanks for any info, if ya know...

Jayson

Jayson, they range fron a little 5mm to 15mm in the M & M Bullet Book. All I can tell you is that we mostly dig the 11mm in CW sites here. The copper cases seem to hold up better than the brass ones. The lead bullets seem more prone to ground action than the normal 3 ringers too. Since they were not government issue, they were just privately owned and not very plentiful. Until Zax found the shotgun hull, I was unaware that they were pin fire shotguns. We have yet to dig pin fire bullets around old homesites here-only in CW camps. Thanks for your interest. HH, Quindy.

Dman · Jan 4, 2011

Re: Zaxfire69,This One's For You-Dug a French Pin Fire Cartridge TODAY

Good finds. I am looking forward to getting back out in the field soon.
Dman

zaxfire69 · Jan 4, 2011

Re: Zaxfire69,This One's For You-Dug a French Pin Fire Cartridge TODAY

Man what are the chances of that?? Here is one to think about. Think about how long that pinfire has been in the ground. All that it would take is a little shift in the soil to break that pin off. I think finding an intact pinfire is a truly amazing find. Congrats to you on your new pinfire. Yes I have had my hands full with a new baby girl. We are still in the Hospital. Hopefully we can come home tonight. I been keeping up with T-net from my iPhone. You guys get out there and dig some cool stuff. I'll be back online at home tomorrow. Congrats once again on your pinfire VOL! Here is my little relic hunter..Leah Isabella Hugg.

kuger · Jan 4, 2011

Re: Zaxfire69,This One's For You-Dug a French Pin Fire Cartridge TODAY

staydetuned said:
Very cool!

But I'm a bit confused; I didn't realize they were so rare. Are there more common or commonly found types? I've found a handful in random places out here in California, including one in an Oakland park (and I think at least one more from old park turf.) And Cody, a good 5+ in one hunt at Bill's Pinfire Peak, which he theorizes was an Englishman's homestead. All those were the smaller guage, whereas the ones I'd found before were mostly 12 guage. I should dig them up and see...

I knew they were fairly uncommon, but to hear all of you accomplished hunters having only found one or two, especially back east, is surprising. Or maybe these are a different type? If not I feel much better about my finds, and much luckier! Thanks for any info, if ya know...

Jayson

Jayson....I completly forgot those were shotgun pinfires you guys dug at Pinfire Peak!!!I am ashamed of myself!!!!
They are rare,the fellow that was at that homestead obviously owned one.Sorry about that oversight buddy. :thumbsup: