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KingsMtnMan
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Joined: 22 Dec 2008
Posts: 79
Location: Kings Mountain
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 Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 10:18 pm Post subject: Need some bullet information |
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Ok folks, I have a smashed bullet I found this past Friday in a remote area near Kings Creek, SC. When I first found it, I felt like it was definitely a 3-ringer but when I brought it home and cleaned it up, I noticed a few things that lead me to believe that it may not be of the Civil War era.
1) The bullet is not “frosty white” like the one Clyde McFadden gave me at the last meeting.
2) The bullet has “grooves or rifling” marks on it.
3) The bullet appears to be a 50 caliber rather than a 54 caliber.
Any ideas?
I am trying to learn as much about these older bullets and just need a little help from you that have been doing this for a while.
Thanks,
Curt / KingsMtnMan
Click to see full size image
Click to see full size image
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nc-joe
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Joined: 01 Sep 2007
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Location: Concord, NC
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Tioga
Legend
Joined: 29 Aug 2007
Posts: 225
Location: Monroe, NC
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| Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 12:01 am Post subject: |
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Could be a modern black powder round. Hard to tell with it being fired, but you're right, it doesn't have the patina that a civil war era bullet should have.
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cadit
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Joined: 31 Aug 2007
Posts: 448
Location: Stallings, N. Carolina
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| Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 4:17 pm Post subject: |
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I agree with Joe, the inter-net is the way to go unless you have a good bullet book.
Henry
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Metal detecting/Treasure Hunting
A Hobby for those with an Adventurous Heart and a Inquisitive Mind[/i] |
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Ian
Administrator
Joined: 28 Aug 2007
Posts: 237
Location: Columbia, SC
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| Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 9:11 am Post subject: Re: Need some bullet information |
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| KingsMtnMan wrote: | Ok folks, I have a smashed bullet I found this past Friday in a remote area near Kings Creek, SC. When I first found it, I felt like it was definitely a 3-ringer but when I brought it home and cleaned it up, I noticed a few things that lead me to believe that it may not be of the Civil War era.
1) The bullet is not “frosty white” like the one Clyde McFadden gave me at the last meeting.
2) The bullet has “grooves or rifling” marks on it.
3) The bullet appears to be a 50 caliber rather than a 54 caliber.
Any ideas?
I am trying to learn as much about these older bullets and just need a little help from you that have been doing this for a while.
Thanks,
Curt / KingsMtnMan
Click to see full size image
Click to see full size image |
Curt and everyone else who wants to learn a little info about this topic:
During the later stages of the Civil War, the Union began to experiment with the 3-Ringed Bullet, AKA the "Minie Ball". They found that other bullets were just tumbling through the air during it's flight causing it to stray off target.
They needed to find something that would make the bullet fly straight and true after being fired from the gun's barrel. This is where "Rifling" is born. As you guys already know, the rifling inside of the barrel makes the bullet twist like a football after a quarterback throws it to a receiver. This twisting motion causes the bullet to fly straight without tumbling. The majority of the bullets found today are what we call "Dropped" bullets or bullets that haven't been fired. These bullets obviously don't have any type of marks on them.
Now, to the questions at hand...
1) The "Frosty White" patina on lead bullets is actually oxidation caused over time. This is actually a form of rust. The oxidation happens as the minerals and chemicals from the ground soak into the lead. Now, depending on the soil/geology/geographic location of where a lead bullet is found, chances are the bullet will be white. But, if the bullet is covered by a soil that is very pure and has a low mineral count, the bullet may look like it the day it was dropped. If you have ever seen bullets pulled from the beach/coast, you'll notice that these are very dark, much like the day they were lost.
2) As I mentioned above about Rifling Marks, you will find period bullets with these marks in later sites.
3) There are MANY different variants in caliber sizes. Also, one thing you have to take into consideration is that this bullet was fired and had impacted something. A bullet that has been fired with a rifling pattern in the barrel tends to be a smaller caliber after it was fired due to the bullet 'squeezing' through.
To fully identify this fired bullet the best you can, you'll want to check out the base of the bullet. Is it solid, Concave, or hollow? This is pretty much the tell-tale sign of how old this bullet could be, because the other main features of the bullet have been compromised.
Hope this helps!
-Ian
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KingsMtnMan
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Joined: 22 Dec 2008
Posts: 79
Location: Kings Mountain
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| Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 9:27 am Post subject: Bullet Information |
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Ian,
Thanks for the information on the bullets! I did find out the that "Kentucky Rifle" was manufactured with riflings in the barrells.
I also found the following information regarding those types of rifles:
The Kentucky (or Pennsylvania) Long Rifle was the most accurate long-range gun for several decades.The first documented appearance of rifling was in Germany around 1460.The flintlockwas developed in the early 1600's. By the late 1600's gunsmiths were experimenting with longer barrels than the forerunner Yaeger. But it took the opening up of a newcontinent to bring out the best.
I also read that some of the Kentucky rifles made their way into soldiers hands during the civil war. Is my bullet one fired from a Kentucky rifle? Who knows, but I did find another small "pistol type" bullet on the same property that had the patina coloring. The difference was the big bullet was found on the side of a ridge in well drained sandy soil and the pistol bullet was found within a few yards of a creek. Thus the moisture could have been a factor in it's patina coloring.
I have posted a couple more photos of the bullets I found that day. Also note that the 3 ring bullet has flat bottom but you can see the pour mark on the botom. (I did not find the unfired 3 ring bullet, it was a gift from Cylde McFadden)
All in all, the bullets do indicate that I should continue to hunt the property as there was most likely some military activity at some time or another.
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