Found in a river need help identifying

[lowd]

Hi guys I'm brand new to this but was snorkeling in a local river and found this heavy metal artifact. I have no clue as to what it may be or what kind of metal it is so hopefully you all can help! The area is a very old known inhabited spot by Native Americans and even the Spanish occupied it at one time.

 

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[aquanut]

I hope its not something like these faces...

Hey Big, I hope the authorities were properly embarrassed!

 

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[baspinall]

Looks like a sand casting art project to me.

 

[lowd]

Upon further investigation I still have no clue as to what it is but I am concluding it is lead... It was found just downstream from a civil war crossing (I recently found out) but I have pulling many interesting lead objects out... I'm very curious to see what the ball thing is in one of the pictures also. It's very heavy solid steel or maybe lead... The top has an eye that is either gold or brass. It has been down there a long time, this is after I cleaned it up. All was found in the same spot as where I found the 'sun face'

 

[HutSiteDigger]

You know that could be the face of James Buchanan... President from 1857-1861

 

[pippinwhitepaws]

early american hippie decoration

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

its an interesting piece lowd.

 

[lowd]

So a friend got interested in this artifact and may have found a conclusion as to what it is...
She thinks it's Helios... Like the Greek coin

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

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[Bigcypresshunter]

Is that a Colt?

 

[lowd]

Bigcypresshunter no clue on the make of the gun and that ball thing is definitely the best guess I've come across so far! Very we'll could be it!

 

[cw0909]

the most outstanding thing, i noticed about the star, is it has 8 points
do a search for 8 pointed star, it is in astrology, and used in religion
i dont know why there would be a face on it though,searching around
i didnt come across any 8 pointed stars with a face

 

[piegrande]

I was thinking (always a dangerous thing.) When trying to identify a material, if you can measure the specific gravity of it, if you have the tools to do so.

Several years ago, I bought a digital scale via Amazon. My brand is of no importance, of course. but I got an AWS-1KG scale, probably like druggies use for sales, heh, heh. And, got a calibration weight extra. Goes to 1 kilogram (2.2 lbs.)

If you weigh the item that is part of the sp. gr. calculation. Next you need to know its volume. That takes more thinking than anything.

One possible way is to have a measuring cup big enough to put the item in. Without the item in the cup, fill the cup to a given line on the side of the cup.

Then put the item in so it is completely submerged, and see how much higher the water went in the cup. That will be your volume.

Calculate the weight per volume unit, then figure out what the weight is for water in the same volume unit. The ratio of this material to the weight of water for the same volume will be the specific gravity.

Then, find sp.gr. charts and when you find a material which has the same sp.gr, you are probably very close to having identified it.

I am aware you may have to do some serious thinking, because while I know how to do it, I don't know how to explain it without waving my hands around.

 

[piegrande]

Another thought. If your measuring cup does not have the markings where you need them to measure the increased volume of the item, then simply take water out of the measuring cup until the mark is back where it started. Weight that water (using TARE on the digital scales) and calculate the volume of the water by the known weight of water per cc or whatever. Again, think; think; think.

And, if you don't have a correct measuring cup, you don't need one. Assuming it is transparent, simply make a mark on the visible container wherever the water is, add the item, remove and weigh the water until it's back at the mark.

The most powerful weapon on the planet is the human brain properly used.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

The handgun is a nice find. Can you post some better pics in the sun? Im sure we can ID it maybe a Colt Army. Are there any markings on the barrel?

 

[lowd]

I don't honestly think the gun is terribly old I believe it is a .22 caliber pistol. As far as the specific gravity of the material of the star face thing that's a great idea to find out material density and possible composition. I'll have to give it a try but I'm pretty sure it is lead so it may not be all too terribly old. Could just be a trinket from the civil war

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I don't honestly think the gun is terribly old I believe it is a .22 caliber pistol.

Its hard to tell by the one pic but we could identify it for you if you wish. There should be markings on the barrel and/or serial numbers. If modern and found in a river, it may have been used in a crime.

The lead starface is a tough one.