✅ SOLVED CW Bullet?

[Carolina Tom]

I was out looking for silver coins today, and I dug this piece of lead. I have almost convinced myself that it’s some sort of Minié ball. However it has no rings on it.

The 3 ringer in the pics was a gift. It’s a 58 caliber dropped enemy bullet. It’s there for size comparison. It weighs 30.9 grams.

The piece I found today weighs 31.7 grams. Any ID assistance is most appreciated.

 

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[jewelerguy]

civil war era Enfield bullet

 

[Gitschlag]

And it looks like it may have the remains of its plug still in its cavity, so don't clean that out!

 

[against the wind]

Nice find Tom.
When you say "It's a 58 caliber dropped enemie's bullet." WHO'S enemy?

 

[Carolina Tom]

And it looks like it may have the remains of its plug still in its cavity, so don't clean that out!

I thought it was dirt and tried to clean it out... it’s a wooden plug... I tried to pick it out of there with a knife. I only tore it up a little bit. Oops.

Thanks jewelerguy!

 

[Carolina Tom]

Nice find Tom.
When you say "It's a 58 caliber dropped enemie's bullet." WHO'S enemy?

That crazy autocorrect. “Union” bullet is what it’s supposed to say.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Jewelerguy is correct, it is definitely a fired civil war era Enfield Minie-bullet. More specifically, it is a .577-caliber bullet, made for use in the British Model-P1853 Enfield Rifle. Also more specifically, the presence of a "plug cavity" in its base means it was manufactured in Britain (by a bullet-making machine press), and it traveled on a Blockade Runner through the yankee naval blockade to the Confederacy. If you found it in North Carolina is most probably arrived here at the port of Wilmington NC, protected by Fort Fisher.

The cork-shaped wooden plug in its base-cavity (which is why it is called a "plug cavity") was made of boxwood. Sometimes the boxwood plug survives nearly or completely intact, due to being almost surrounded by lead, which is toxic to the bacteria which normally would eat wood left laying on the ground. It might shrink a bit as it dries, and fall out. If it does, look to see if there is a number or letter mark in the flat bottom of the base-cavity. The most common Enfield minie base-mark is "57" (for the caliber), but there are also letters, and combinations, such as L, L1, L2, P, and others.

 

[relic nut]

That's sweet Tom! Your first CW bullet and it's a great one!
Merry Christmas

 

[Carolina Tom]

Jewelerguy is correct, it is definitely a fired civil war era Enfield Minie-bullet. More specifically, it is a .577-caliber bullet, made for use in the British Model-P1853 Enfield Rifle. Also more specifically, the presence of a "plug cavity" in its base means it was manufactured in Britain (by a bullet-making machine press), and it traveled on a Blockade Runner through the yankee naval blockade to the Confederacy. If you found it in North Carolina is most probably arrived here at the port of Wilmington NC, protected by Fort Fisher.

The cork-shaped wooden plug in its base-cavity (which is why it is called a "plug cavity") was made of boxwood. Sometimes the boxwood plug survives nearly or completely intact, due to being almost surrounded by lead, which is toxic to the bacteria which normally would eat wood left laying on the ground. It might shrink a bit as it dries, and fall out. If it does, look to see if there is a number or letter mark in the flat bottom of the base-cavity. The most common Enfield minie base-mark is "57" (for the caliber), but there are also letters, and combinations, such as L, L1, L2, P, and others.

Thanks for the expert opinion CBG. I hoped that you would see this thread. Your knowledge is a much appreciated asset to this community.

Best to you during the holiday season.

 

[sprailroad]

Thanks for the expert opinion CBG. I hoped that you would see this thread. Your knowledge is a much appreciated asset to this community.

Best to you during the holiday season.

What Carolina said.

 

[Carolina Tom]

That's sweet Tom! Your first CW bullet and it's a great one!
Merry Christmas

Thanks RN.

I’m just thrilled to have finally found a CW era bullet, and what a plus to be from the Southern side.