As promised - Here is the revolver after 14 days of cooking

[creskol]

It looks like there are 5 balls still in the cylinder, but the chambers are empty otherwise. Is that a bit odd?
The bluish/white shininess you see is uncured preservation solution.

The oblong thing that I originally thought was a big pocket knife turned out to be an old glasses case.
It was in the hot pot for the same amount of time.

The first photo is the revolver as found. The last four are of the glasses case.

 

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[Almy]

Beautiful job! I'd love to have a revolver like that. It's a cap and ball, so the chambers would have been filled with powder but there would have been no brass cartridge. Likely the powder leached out if they are empty.

 

[Peyton Manning]

Can you link original thread?
I’d like to read the story of discovery

 

[creskol]

Can you link original thread?
I’d like to read the story of discovery

Day 2 at the site, and I think I found some GOOD things.

I just got in from day two at the new site. This place has seen occupation from the late 1700's until it burned in in 1990. It saw Civil War occupation. I have barely scratched the surface of this property which covers 140 acres. Anyhow, here are my uncleaned items for today. I will try to...

www.treasurenet.com

 

[Peyton Manning]

Thanks, that’s a great site

 

[detectorbishop]

wow, what difference, I am not familiar with hot boxing, can someone share a link for how it works

 

[xaos]

pretty sure the OP means electrolysis...

 

[creskol]

pretty sure the OP means electrolysis...

No .. no electrolysis. I literally use a thermostatically controlled hot pot filled with Evaporust, and cook the relics at a constant 200 degrees.

 

[Brian C.]

It looks like there are 5 balls still in the cylinder, but the chambers are empty otherwise. Is that a bit odd?
The bluish/white shininess you see is uncured preservation solution.

The oblong thing that I originally thought was a big pocket knife turned out to be an old glasses case.
It was in the hot pot for the same amount of time.

The first photo is the revolver as found. The last four are of the glasses case.

Looks darn good, thanks for sharing.

 

[pepperj]

We

It looks like there are 5 balls still in the cylinder, but the chambers are empty otherwise. Is that a bit odd?
The bluish/white shininess you see is uncured preservation solution.

The oblong thing that I originally thought was a big pocket knife turned out to be an old glasses case.
It was in the hot pot for the same amount of time.

The first photo is the revolver as found. The last four are of the glasses case.

Well done on the cook, looks great.

 

[Digger RJ]

It looks like there are 5 balls still in the cylinder, but the chambers are empty otherwise. Is that a bit odd?
The bluish/white shininess you see is uncured preservation solution.

The oblong thing that I originally thought was a big pocket knife turned out to be an old glasses case.
It was in the hot pot for the same amount of time.

The first photo is the revolver as found. The last four are of the glasses case.

Cool!!! Congrats!!!

 

[RichsEquinox]

That turned out really good. What a great treasure!

 

[ToddsPoint]

Looks to me like it's loaded. You won't be shooting that old thing any time soon but it will be a great wall hanger.

 

[CreakyDigger]

Very nice! The powder was loose behind the ball (no cartridge) and sealed over with animal fat or grease....once the grease decayed the powder was lost....outstanding "cooking" job!

 

[park pirate]

Awesome find...

 

[Freetrapper]

Awesome find...

Nice. Looks like a model 1858 Remington new army revolver.

 

[releventchair]

great salvage job!
More meat left than I would have expected.

We can't see the rear of the cylinder to see if any nipples survived.
Blackpowder is hydroscopic , it sucks up moisture given the chance , and is corrosive.
If corrosion it may has been dissipated by your cleaning method and "evaporated".
Nitrate is part of the ingredients. And could nibble away at metal during it's long rest .

The balls are seated near flush with the end of the cylinder. It would be difficult (though not impossible ) to seat them uniformly like that without powder under them.

Wads could be used to fill voids of squib loads. Or for other reason. Cornstarch too. That gets the bullet/ball near flush up front , vs greatly recessed.
As mentioned , grease lard ect. spread over the loaded chambers face reduced the odds of chain fires.

 

[Hunk-a-lead]

It looks like there are 5 balls still in the cylinder, but the chambers are empty otherwise. Is that a bit odd?
The bluish/white shininess you see is uncured preservation solution.

The oblong thing that I originally thought was a big pocket knife turned out to be an old glasses case.
It was in the hot pot for the same amount of time.

The first photo is the revolver as found. The last four are of the glasses case.

great job on that restoration, well done indeed

 

[Timbermaster]

Just too cool!

 

[CoinHunterAZ]

There was only 5 balls in the cylinder because the old timers didn't want the hammer resting on a loaded cylinder. If dropped or bumped hard it go off unexpectedly. This practice is still used today with some single action cartridge six guns. Nice job on the recovery, and on the cleanup.