OldSarge79
Sergeant
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2017
- Location
- Pisgah Forest, North Carolina
A couple of weeks ago, I won two lots, at auction, of Alamo battlefield relics from a 2008 dig. Along with some recognizable items (rifle and musket balls, buttons, shoe buckles and pottery) there are these metal relics, which I am hoping a few can be identified as to what they are.
The long piece on the right appears to be either a long nail or a ramrod. The swelled area about 1 1/2 inches from the head is square (four-sided). It then reverts again to round. The square section is about 3/4 inch long.
One item looks like a nail punch. Its head is square.
The interior area of the long hook is filled in with solid mineral/rust, the the interior top and bottom edges are flat, at about a 45 degree angle. Maybe it is a wagon attachment or something similar.
Lastly, there are two balls described as "rifle shot." I don't have a caliper but one is about .45 to .50 caliber, the other is a little larger. The largest is one of the musket balls, about .75 caliber, which I included for size comparison.
Two questions:
Other than the smaller size, is there anything about these two that would identify them as rifle rounds? I don't see any rifling marks on them.
Also, one is somewhat flattened on one side, as can be seen in one of the photos. I am assuming this hit something. For those of you who know, does this look right for a "hit?"
I will probably keep some and sell the remainder before long.
Thanks in advance.
The long piece on the right appears to be either a long nail or a ramrod. The swelled area about 1 1/2 inches from the head is square (four-sided). It then reverts again to round. The square section is about 3/4 inch long.
One item looks like a nail punch. Its head is square.
The interior area of the long hook is filled in with solid mineral/rust, the the interior top and bottom edges are flat, at about a 45 degree angle. Maybe it is a wagon attachment or something similar.
Lastly, there are two balls described as "rifle shot." I don't have a caliper but one is about .45 to .50 caliber, the other is a little larger. The largest is one of the musket balls, about .75 caliber, which I included for size comparison.
Two questions:
Other than the smaller size, is there anything about these two that would identify them as rifle rounds? I don't see any rifling marks on them.
Also, one is somewhat flattened on one side, as can be seen in one of the photos. I am assuming this hit something. For those of you who know, does this look right for a "hit?"
I will probably keep some and sell the remainder before long.
Thanks in advance.