AFTER WORK FINDS

[JCNC]

3 RINGERS ,COLTS., ONE BULLET HAD A HOLE IN IT I DONT KNOW WHAT FOR ?

 

[CampPollardC.S.A.]

n/t

 

[d-2]

Looks like 2 of 'em, to me, could have been used or fixing to be used for sinkers...d2

 

[ThatCannonballGuy]

CampPollardC.S.A. wrote:
"Could have been a sinker?"

Back in the early 1980s I had in-laws wo lived in the Fort Fisher NC area. While digging there, I found lots of minies which had been pierced through the skirt, just like the one in JCNC's photo. Like you, I was curious about the purpose - particlularly because of the quantity of them I'd found. The local diggers told me the purpose was to use the minie as a fishing-line sinker. Considering the quantity of them that turn up in seacoast & riverbank sites (but not at "inland" sites), I think the guess is correct.

However, there is another other purpose, IF the hole is placed where it penetrates into the *bottom* of the minie's base-cavity. You put a hollow stick into the hole (from the outside), then put a bit of tobacco into the cavity, light it, and you can get a few tokes.

Don't laugh. Hey, *I've* been that desperate for some smoke. ;-)

Regards,
TheCannonballGuy [Pete George]

 

[Anonymous]

n/t

 

[ThatCannonballGuy]

Vlad wrote:
"Smoking lead - that's some heavy stuff! You always did have a good supply of those funny looking bullets,"

{Humor mode: ON)
(Wounded-Dignity mode: ON)
Hey, I already explained that I dug lots of those funny-looking bullets in the Fort Fisher defenses (Cape Fear river fortifications).

Vlad continued:
"but I never smelled anything funny burning [Mexican Spinach, Latin Lettuce, you know, South of the Border Butts, aka El Jointo]."

That's because I haven't had any since 1973 - the year before I started metal-detecting. But if we had met earlier... ;-)

Vlad continued:
"Thought you acted a little giddy at some Civil War Shows - do you think it was the antimony or the tin that got you?"

Not antimony or tin. It was the lead-oxide. (Which is what bullet-patina is, you know). You also know that I've (literally) handled tens-of-thousands of dug minies, unintentionally inhaling their dust. Lead-oxide causes brain damage. So, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. : )

Regards,
TheCannonballGuy

 

[Anonymous]

n/t

 

[ThatCannonballGuy]

Vlad wrote:
"Didn't some primers use Fulminate of Mercury, or Mercury Styphanate?"

Yep, Fulminate of Mercury was the primer in percussion-caps. Fortunately for us, it deteriorates very quickly when exposed to weather.

Regards,
TheCannonballGuy