Flute!? Whistle!? Need some help

[WessThompson]

hey folks. Just wondered if anyone has ever seen anything like this before?! I found it at a military site of mine, where I have found everything from war of 1812 artifacts, up to 1860 military relics.

I'm not sure if this is more modern!?

It appears to be a lead flute or whistle and is obviously handmade, as you can see the holes are carved out. It measures about 3" long, and unfortunately I found it in two pieces...but at least I have them both.

Anyhow, I thought maybe some of you might have seen something similar before, or could tell me what it is, or how old it might be!? It was found about 8" deep...which is inline with the 1812 goodies I find there. Thoughts!? Opinions!?

Thanks very much

Wess

 

[Bill_in_MA]

could it be a homemade Fife as in fife and drums......

fron net......The fife is loud and piercing, yet also extremely small and portable. By some reports a military fife can be heard up to 3 miles away over artillery fire. These qualities made it useful for signaling on the battlefield. The fife was a standard instrument in infantries.

 

[Bill_in_MA]

Looking at it further - it appears you don't blow across the end hole like a flute, piccolo or fife but through the end mouthpiece so I guess that puts it more in the class of a whistle - tinwhistle......pennywhistle......Irish whistle.