Biggest Pritchett style Enfield Ever !

[SemoPreacher]

This joker hit like a canon ball it is so big! between 1- 1/4" and 1- 5/16" long over 5/8" across and a honkin' 780 grains! Ever see anything like? I have dug many an Enfield, but this is my first! What caliber is it?

 

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[keystonecops]

No idea on caliber, I'd hate to git shot by it. Is that a spear point? Later Clyde

 

[vpnavy]

Great find! Thanks for sharing...

 

[SemoPreacher]

No idea on caliber, I'd hate to git shot by it. Is that a spear point? Later Clyde

Actually it is a knife, that was in the same field not 50 feet from where I dug this up.

 

[FamilyFun2010]

See what you think about this one? Its close.
Item
Item

 

[SemoPreacher]

don't know, I wish he had the weight on there too. I am gonna get my calipers out and check it good. I figure though it was Confederate.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Your bullet is not an Enfield... according to the "Handbook Of Civil War Bullets & Cartridges" it is a .69-caliber yankee machine-pressed-&-turned minie (made in a bullet-press machine, not by casting). See bullet #188A in that book. The version you found, which in your photos appears to not have any body-grooves/rings, is extremely rare. That specific version is known to have been dug at Missouri civil war battlesites & yankee campsites.

I should mention, it was previously called a Prussian in the older civil war bullet books, but the Thomas Brothers' recent research in civil war US Ordnance Department bullet-production records has proved it is a yankee machine-made minie, not an import from Prussia.

 

[SemoPreacher]

Wow thanks for the info. I was looking in the book you are referring to and didn't see the bullet description you mentioned. After takinig another look I see it is indeed the bullet you say it is! It is the first I have found in this area where the Battle for #10 Island on the Mississippi River took place and where they were fighting for control of the town of New Madrid Missouri. I have other 69 with rings but never found a ringless one like this. Thank you so much for your informative response!

 

[Thommy]

As usual, "TheCannonballGuy" is the final voice of authenticity, and you can be assured he has made the correct identification. As far as I am concerned, he has the final word when it comes to ordnance. Good job!

Your bullet is not an Enfield... according to the "Handbook Of Civil War Bullets & Cartridges" it is a .69-caliber yankee machine-pressed-&-turned minie (made in a bullet-press machine, not by casting). See bullet #188A in that book. The version you found, which in your photos appears to not have any body-grooves/rings, is extremely rare. That specific version is known to have been dug at Missouri civil war battlesites & yankee campsites.

I should mention, it was previously called a Prussian in the older civil war bullet books, but the Thomas Brothers' recent research in civil war US Ordnance Department bullet-production records has proved it is a yankee machine-made minie, not an import from Prussia.