Civil War grenade Non-dug mystery????

[picnic42]

This item was gifted to me from a friend, who knew I was finding Civil War artifacts with a metal detector. I had given his son a little Tonka toy found in a volley ball court. He told me that he "bought" this and the seller said it was a fuze or time delay component for a Civil War hand grenade. I googled many searches... including fuze and time delay and found nothing at all like this. ( on a note included said... "Civil War Ketchum Grenade Detonator... seldom seen")
This is non metalic... probably some hard paper or hard wood like composition (no grain can be seen). It is hard not soft or pliable in any way. It has seven holes drilled thru to the end. This is not hollow as I first thought but a solid piece that has seven small holes bored thru it.
I am now thinking while writing this... might this be the charge itself all dried out? There is nothing mechanical about this piece... but just thinking... why have the bored holes except for faster burn?
Help me ID this thing please...
Ralph

 

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[creskol]

Re: Non-dug mystery

salt/pepper shaker lid?

 

[picnic42]

Re: Non-dug mystery

salt/pepper shaker lid?

LOL... 150 year old salt shaker.... oh well... so much for relic? LOL Good try but guess again!

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Re: Non-dug mystery

I do not recognize it as any type of a civil war fuze, nor any part or component of one.

Please provide a side-view photo and a base-view photo of the object.

By the way, regarding the note's mention of a Ketchum Grenade detonator... the fuze for all three sizes of the Ketchum grenade was only about 1/2-inch in diameter. Thus, that cannot be what your mystery-object is. I've owned a couple of Ketchum Grenade fuzes. Also, see the photos of them in Charles H. Jones' book, "Artillery Fuses of the Civil War" on page 121.

 

[creskol]

Re: Non-dug mystery

salt/pepper shaker lid?

LOL... 150 year old salt shaker.... oh well... so much for relic? LOL Good try but guess again!

My mother use to have a large black, hard plastic kitchen-size salt shaker with a red lid on it .. I pissed her off about something one day and she grabbed that shaker and threw it at me as hard as she could. I ducked of course .. it hit the radiator and blew up like a "Civil War Kitchen Grenade."

 

[allan]

maybe a frog ?

 

[picnic42]

Re: Non-dug mystery

I do not recognize it as any type of a civil war fuze, nor any part or component of one.

Please provide a side-view photo and a base-view photo of the object.

By the way, regarding the note's mention of a Ketchum Grenade detonator... the fuze for all three sizes of the Ketchum grenade was only about 1/2-inch in diameter. Thus, that cannot be what your mystery-object is. I've owned a couple of Ketchum Grenade fuzes. Also, see the photos of them in Charles H. Jones' book, "Artillery Fuses of the Civil War" on page 121.

Side view it is a cylinder and I have taken photos of it laying on it's side.
Base View You see in the photos both top and bottom.
You should see 6 photos that I have uploaded.
I have not measured it precisely but it is a bit bigger than one inch round... and about 2 inches long.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

I'm going to ask you take my word that there was only one photo showing when I viewed your post and began typing my reply.

 

[creskol]

I'm going to ask you take my word that there was only one photo showing when I viewed your post and began typing my reply.

Only one showed when I initially looked at it as well.

 

[picnic42]

I'm going to ask you take my word that there was only one photo showing when I viewed your post and began typing my reply.

I do indeed take your word.... I was surprised is all. I had added 5 other pics well before I saw your reply. I uploaded all 6... but it only took the first initial photo.
Please excuse me if you felt I was behaving poorly towards you.... totally unintentional.
Ralph

 

[aka da Prof]

I see all six pix--you folks probably do to by now--

 

[Scar]

Maybe it is a tip for a torch like a rosebud or something.

 

[Sheldon J]

Two thoughts, Bakelite an early type of plastic, or coreidite an early form of powder for large gun's it has a similar feel kind of like a hardened tar, and is highly flamable

 

[picnic42]

Two thoughts, Bakelite an early type of plastic, or coreidite an early form of powder for large gun's it has a similar feel kind of like a hardened tar, and is highly flamable

I was thinking of that... it does look like it was pressed or formed and then dried, (causing it to shrink a bit and become misformed a bit), it is very hard. I used to be a Gunners Mate Missile while in the navy (a long time ago) and it did kinda looked like a very large pellet of gun powder, I could not remember the terms, but once you said Coredite and Bakelite... the door bell rang! LOL
Do you think it could be Civil War era? I can't imagine any weapon during that time period, using such a large pellet of powder!!!
Thanks for your input...
Ralph

 

[NOLA_Ken]

If it is in fact made of gunpowder, the only thing I can think of close to that in design would be the charge in a rocket. I think though that they have one hole through them in the center rather than several small ones. Do a Google Image search for model rocket motor charge, and solid rocket motor charge......

Of course if it's not made of black powder, or another propellent this is all moot.

 

[picnic42]

If it is in fact made of gunpowder, the only thing I can think of close to that in design would be the charge in a rocket. I think though that they have one hole through them in the center rather than several small ones. Do a Google Image search for model rocket motor charge, and solid rocket motor charge......

Of course if it's not made of black powder, or another propellent this is all moot.

Ken... thanks
I have indeed looked at model rocket motors... sold hundreds of them in a hobby shop I used to work at part time. and I have indeed looked at and into REAL rocket motors as well. I used to install ignitors in final assembly of Naval Missiles... I looked right up the blast tube of modern missiles every day! LOL
I have never seen a pellet of gun powder this big.
I am not ready to test to see if it is gunpowder... LOL But this thing seems to be more likely some sort of propellant for a fired "something" ! Now to find out what... and what time period?
Ralph

 

[bradyboy]

At this point, I would say LICK IT
salt, pepper, gun powder ?
Brady

 

[picnic42]

At this point, I would say LICK IT
salt, pepper, gun powder ?
Brady

hhhmmmmm NOT gonna lick that thing!

 

[High Plains Digger]

No way. What if it is made out of saltpeter?

 

[dozer dan]

im thinking it looks like a "cryer box" from a very old baby doll. most likely celuloid or bakelite.