Dug A "Scarce" CW Relic at CSA Cavalry Camp!!!

VOL1266-X

Gold Member
Jan 10, 2007
5,589
2,910
Northern Middle Tennessee
Detector(s) used
Fisher 1266-X, F75 X 2
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
Dug A "Scarce" CW Relic at CSA Cavalry Camp!!!

Dman was golfing yesterday morning and Tenn. Josh had to check both of his businesses before going in to work in the afternoon. Having nobody to hunt with me, I again continued my pursuit of the elusive CSA Cavalry camp pickets. Pickings were slim on my scouting trip and it was humid as I searched the outer camp perimeter. I dug a 4 hole pewter underwear button, shotgun brass, several blank WW2 30-06 cartridges, and what looked to be a modern day bullet about .45 cal. that I threw into my pouch. However, when I cleaned it at home, I noticed it had a flat, solid base and two rings that looked period. It measured almost exactly like a M & M 483 which is listed as a Frank Wesson .44 cal long bullet from a single shot rimfire rifle or carbine used by U.S. Soldiers in the war. It was also available for private purchase early on. It could have also been from a Ballard Carbine as listed in the M & M book so I was not sure. Cannonball Guy (who I consider as a real CW expert) said that it is either a Wesson or Ballard according to whether it has raised rings or grooves when I posted it on What is it?” forum. I wanted my opinion confirmed to be as accurate as possible when I post something. It has rings cut into the body of the bullet. He went on to say that bullet is considered a .42 cal. Wesson in the T & T book.
Tom Hays at Stones River Trading Company said it was not a super rare bullet but is considered “scarce”. I sent him a pic and he confirmed that it looks exactly like the Wesson bullets he has sold. He said he has had maybe less than a dozen to sell while he has been in the relic business. Larry Hicklen of Middle Tennessee Civil War Relics said that he has dug a few of those Wesson bullets in Morgan CSA camps over the years in my area. This bullet was probably from a captured U.S. gun since it’s from an early war camp but also could have been brought from home.
The new N S Trader price guide lists the bullets at $25-30 each. I am beginning to believe that the Confederates patrolled on horseback (Vedettes) there and rarely dismounted thus leaving no concentration of relics to recover.
This again reminds us to NEVER throw anything away without examining it closely. Thanks Cannonballguy for your expertise to confirm my recovery. HH, Quindy.
 

Attachments

  • M & M #483 .44 Cal. Frank Wesson Long.jpg
    M & M #483 .44 Cal. Frank Wesson Long.jpg
    65.3 KB · Views: 2,101
  • M & M #483 .44 Cal. Frank Wesson Long.jpg
    M & M #483 .44 Cal. Frank Wesson Long.jpg
    65.3 KB · Views: 2,105
Upvote 0
Re: Dug A "Scarce" CW Relic at CSA Cavalry Camp!!!

Good eyes, I myself would have just just threw it in with the other bullets. Really cool. :icon_thumright:
You are right,The Cannon Ball Guy is a wealth of knowledge. He helped me with a project I had a few years ago.
 

Re: Dug A "Scarce" CW Relic at CSA Cavalry Camp!!!

Nice recovery Quindy. It sure does pay to do some research on finds sometimes. I sure hope that I can get back out before my big relic hunt at the end of the month.
 

Re: Dug A "Scarce" CW Relic at CSA Cavalry Camp!!!

that is a good find Quindy.i stopped by Dmans store yesterday and the lady said he had been playing golf but came in got his detector and left. i thought maybe you and he had gone hunting. anyway that is a nice relic.keep up the good work.
 

Re: Dug A "Scarce" CW Relic at CSA Cavalry Camp!!!

nice bullet ....congrats! :thumbsup:
H
 

Re: Dug A "Scarce" CW Relic at CSA Cavalry Camp!!!

birdman said:
Good eyes, I myself would have just just threw it in with the other bullets. Really cool. :icon_thumright:
You are right,The Cannon Ball Guy is a wealth of knowledge. He helped me with a project I had a few years ago.
He's a great resource that we fail to fully appreciate on Tnet on CW artifacts. HH Birdman and hope you dig a banner this fall, Quindy.
treasurehound said:
Nice recovery Quindy. It sure does pay to do some research on finds sometimes. I sure hope that I can get back out before my big relic hunt at the end of the month.
I hope you get out soon Randy. Guy has some info. for you on a show that I'll be on in November if you want to tune in. HH, Quindy.
RTDE3 said:
Another one for your collection Q!
Always cool when you can add something you don't have.
What a odd ball bullet. Good thing you checked it out! :thumbsup:
The post CW bullets generally have a concave base Rob. This one looked different but I could barely see the rings just above where it was pressed into the metallic cartridge with dirt on it. I didn't even know these existed. HH, Quindy.
rebelrouser said:
that is a good find Quindy.i stopped by Dmans store yesterday and the lady said he had been playing golf but came in got his detector and left. i thought maybe you and he had gone hunting. anyway that is a nice relic.keep up the good work.
I would imagine a few house sites were in his plan Don. Thanks for looking, Quindy.
HISPAN said:
nice bullet ....congrats! :thumbsup:
H
Thanks H. I'm sure the mid 19th century is new stuff compared to the artifacts you regularly recover. I appreciate you taking time to reply and HH, Quindy.
 

Re: Dug A "Scarce" CW Relic at CSA Cavalry Camp!!!

Q-
You cease to amaze me. You have been on a roll uncovering some oddball finds recently. Way to go on the scarce CW bullet. I would have thought it was modern or a Western Auto fishing sinker. :tongue3: :laughing9:
As far as:
"This bullet was probably from a captured U.S. gun", I beg to differ Sir. I think the Yankee may have just felt sorry for the Reb for having to use a slingshot as a weapon. Yank was just being nice and gave the Reb a few lead bullets as ammo. Just a hunch. :tongue3:
Sorry to hear you've had to detect alone again. If I lived closer I would be right there with you irritating the @&%# out of you. :laughing7:
Congrats Big Guy! :occasion14:
-Dug-
 

Re: Dug A "Scarce" CW Relic at CSA Cavalry Camp!!!

ModernMiner said:
Q-
You cease to amaze me. You have been on a roll uncovering some oddball finds recently. Way to go on the scarce CW bullet. I would have thought it was modern or a Western Auto fishing sinker. :tongue3: :laughing9:
As far as:
"This bullet was probably from a captured U.S. gun", I beg to differ Sir. I think the Yankee may have just felt sorry for the Reb for having to use a slingshot as a weapon. Yank was just being nice and gave the Reb a few lead bullets as ammo. Just a hunch. :tongue3:
Sorry to hear you've had to detect alone again. If I lived closer I would be right there with you irritating the @&%# out of you. :laughing7:
Congrats Big Guy! :occasion14:
-Dug-
You and Dman? No human could take that. The next relic hunters at that camp would discover two fresh graves and a broken TSC trenching shovel-LOL. Thanks DUG, I have been lucky lately. I hope that streak entends to out of state hunts. Q.
 

Re: Dug A "Scarce" CW Relic at CSA Cavalry Camp!!!

Woodland Detectors said:
Wow, congrats Quindy on yet another great lead save! :hello2:
Thanks Mike. I'd like to say that I dug it with the T2 SE that I just bought from you but I didn't get it from UPS until yesterday afternoon. Send me a pic of that button you had just dug when I talked to you in the field yersterday. Sounds VERY interesting and pre CW. HH, Q.
 

Re: Dug A "Scarce" CW Relic at CSA Cavalry Camp!!!

Way to go on the nice bullet. I am about done golfing for the year and am ready to do some serious relic hunting. I checked out an old house site that has huge potential that we will hit this fall. I dug a few old buttons and a couple of silver coins in about an hour of digging. The yard is about two acres. Maybe another CS plate.
Dman
 

Re: Dug A "Scarce" CW Relic at CSA Cavalry Camp!!!

Nice dig! I have not dug, handled, or even seen such a bullet as that. Great find! :hello2: I have a few Richmond test lab bullets, and some other interesting rounds I've collected--including one round that is not in M&M, or any other resource. Found only in WV, shot into a slope with hundreds upon hundreds of regular Minies and Cleaner Bullets. I think I found about 20-30 of them, and obviously CW too.

But I never knew that gun existed. It's a very nice find.

Best Wishes,

Buck
 

Re: Dug A "Scarce" CW Relic at CSA Cavalry Camp!!!

Dman said:
Way to go on the nice bullet. I am about done golfing for the year and am ready to do some serious relic hunting. I checked out an old house site that has huge potential that we will hit this fall. I dug a few old buttons and a couple of silver coins in about an hour of digging. The yard is about two acres. Maybe another CS plate.
Dman
I'm ready freddy. We'll go next week when you can. Q.
BuckleBoy said:
Nice dig! I have not dug, handled, or even seen such a bullet as that. Great find! :hello2: I have a few Richmond test lab bullets, and some other interesting rounds I've collected--including one round that is not in M&M, or any other resource. Found only in WV, shot into a slope with hundreds upon hundreds of regular Minies and Cleaner Bullets. I think I found about 20-30 of them, and obviously CW too.

But I never knew that gun existed. It's a very nice find.

Best Wishes,

Buck
Buck, we all know there are many authentic CW bullets not listed in either of the M & M or T & T books. I wondered if you had dug one like it in KY. Hope you are well in LA. I'm expecting to see you detecting an old fishing resort in the background of the "Swamp People" show on the History Channel. Hope to see your articles in W & E Treasures soon my friend, Quindy.
 

Re: Dug A "Scarce" CW Relic at CSA Cavalry Camp!!!

Another Excellent save there Q! Seems you are getting closer.
 

Re: Dug A "Scarce" CW Relic at CSA Cavalry Camp!!!

Congratulation's Quindy.....Don't have one of those guy's in the collection.I guess they're not a real common bullet up this far.....Nice dig :thumbsup:
 

Re: Dug A "Scarce" CW Relic at CSA Cavalry Camp!!!

Congrats on nailing that Scarce Lead ;D
Glad to see you got another one!
I need those books described, I got a bowlful of old lead that I know nothing about.
HH :thumbsup:
 

Re: Dug A "Scarce" CW Relic at CSA Cavalry Camp!!!

:) Fantastic , get some more , Quindy :icon_thumleft: 8) dawg
 

Re: Dug A "Scarce" CW Relic at CSA Cavalry Camp!!!

Getty said:
Another Excellent save there Q! Seems you are getting closer.
I'm not sure Roger if I am or not. I am still looking however. HH, Quindy.
civilman1 said:
Congratulation's Quindy.....Don't have one of those guy's in the collection.I guess they're not a real common bullet up this far.....Nice dig :thumbsup:
The Wesson rifles were made in calibers from .22 to .44 cal. per Flayderman's Gun book Joe. There were not that many made. The U.S. Army used the Wesoon military carbine. I didn't even know they existed. HH, Quindy.
steelheadwill said:
Congrats on nailing that Scarce Lead ;D
Glad to see you got another one!
I need those books described, I got a bowlful of old lead that I know nothing about.
HH :thumbsup:
I use the M & M bullet boook Herbie. They are available at relic dealers and Amazon and Barnes & Noble online. After you get a book, you will need a set dial calipers graduated in inches that I'm sure you already posess. Thanks, Quindy.
CMDiamonddawg said:
:) Fantastic , get some more , Quindy :icon_thumleft: 8) dawg
I doubt there's any more there Dawg but who knows. Good luck hunting this fall and get back to that old mill site. It has produced some fantastic relics and coins, Quindy.
 

Re: Dug A "Scarce" CW Relic at CSA Cavalry Camp!!!

Sweet find! I haven't dug one of those yet. :headbang:
 

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top