Gaming piece?

[Garabaldi]

This musket ball seems to have been used for something other than ammunition. Any guesses?

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Agony and Death on a Gold Rush Steamer: The Disastrous Sinking of the Side-Wheeler Yankee Blade - Grab it through Amazon!

[chipveres]

Is it possible that the hole resulted from someone removing it with a ball puller?

Chip V.

 

[ivan salis]

old style flat based lead ball type button -- the hole in the back is from the iron back attachment --sort of a screw eye you used to sew it to the coat -- like the eye on a screen door "hook and eye" type door latch

 

[Lucas]

Given the context... more lead balls... it's not a button. Pulled ball, using a screw puller. The distortion looks like it may have come from a ball starter. Chances are it's modern (1960's + ) since we use much less windage than they did in the good old days. Tighter fit = more pounding.

 

[allen_idaho]

To me, it looks like it was used as a fishing line weight. But I could be wrong.

 

[Garabaldi]

Given the context... more lead balls... it's not a button. Pulled ball, using a screw puller. The distortion looks like it may have come from a ball starter. Chances are it's modern (1960's + ) since we use much less windage than they did in the good old days. Tighter fit = more pounding.

No chance of it being modern, if someone was shooting in this public area in 1960, they would quickly be arrested. This site goes back to 1620ish. The musket bullet is in the same shape and look as the others.
These are some of the other things I found with them.

 

[La Beep]

Given the context... more lead balls... it's not a button. Pulled ball, using a screw puller. The distortion looks like it may have come from a ball starter. Chances are it's modern (1960's + ) since we use much less windage than they did in the good old days. Tighter fit = more pounding.

No chance of it being modern, if someone was shooting in this public area in 1960, they would quickly be arrested. This site goes back to 1620ish. The musket bullet is in the same shape and look as the others.
These are some of the other things I found with them.

Question: Why are there modern bullets in the last picture then?

 

[Garabaldi]

Given the context... more lead balls... it's not a button. Pulled ball, using a screw puller. The distortion looks like it may have come from a ball starter. Chances are it's modern (1960's + ) since we use much less windage than they did in the good old days. Tighter fit = more pounding.

No chance of it being modern, if someone was shooting in this public area in 1960, they would quickly be arrested. This site goes back to 1620ish. The musket bullet is in the same shape and look as the others.
These are some of the other things I found with them.

Question: Why are there modern bullets in the last picture then?

Hmmmm, good point, but I do still get the hunch that it is not modern, but I may be wrong.

 

[La Beep]

Given the context... more lead balls... it's not a button. Pulled ball, using a screw puller. The distortion looks like it may have come from a ball starter. Chances are it's modern (1960's + ) since we use much less windage than they did in the good old days. Tighter fit = more pounding.

No chance of it being modern, if someone was shooting in this public area in 1960, they would quickly be arrested. This site goes back to 1620ish. The musket bullet is in the same shape and look as the others.
These are some of the other things I found with them.

Question: Why are there modern bullets in the last picture then?

Hmmmm, good point, but I do still get the hunch that it is not modern, but I may be wrong.

It maybe old or it may be new, I have found lead items in Italy, i.e. fishing weights, sling projectiles, and other misc items that are at least 2000 years old, how do i know, i was only finding items from that period. Problem there is no way to prove that one way or another. I know, but to convince any one else is a waste of time. Only those who were there with me believes.

 

[PChammer]

http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/paal/thunder-cannon/images/fig42.jpg

I would say older, but some do order lead pellets for airguns.

 

[Sky Pilot]

old style flat based lead ball type button -- the hole in the back is from the iron back attachment --sort of a screw eye you used to sew it to the coat -- like the eye on a screen door "hook and eye" type door latch

I'm with Ivan on this one!!
The "bottom/back side" has a definite decorative flair to it, and also it is much larger than the other musketballs shown with it.
My vote is for 1600's 1700's button.
Regards, SkyPilot

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I gotta go with Ivan. Lead ball button.

 

[Lucas]

Well, those pics sure help, don't they? Guess I'll have to go with "lead ball button."

 

[ivan salis]

look at the darker lead ball button in the above photo by big cy -- see the screw eye and how it has a flat type collar where it mates it to the lead ball? -- I think yours might have had a similar type eye shank -- which accounts for the flat ring type spot on your ball --- nice lead ball button --- Ivan

green check ?

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

must be a heavy coat. Sorry forgot the link. http://civilwarconnection.tripod.com/catalog.htm

 

[ivan salis]

most likely from a heavy large type wool "cold weather" type outer coat ---also more likely american rev war / war of 1812 era than CW era since the round lead ball type button was more common in the late 1700 / early 1800 time frame era

however as the CW wore on the south being hard up for buttons could have went "old school" and made / used tem.

 

[Iron Patch]

Given the context... more lead balls... it's not a button. Pulled ball, using a screw puller. The distortion looks like it may have come from a ball starter. Chances are it's modern (1960's + ) since we use much less windage than they did in the good old days. Tighter fit = more pounding.

I would have expected a green check after the above post. Guess you got robbed Lucas! Now match the deepest groove on the enfield, to the musket ball, and compare to the item above.

 

[ivan salis]

if a round musket type ball is put into a rifled barrel and shoved down it should have rifling grooves cut into it from the barrel lands --along its sides (of which i see none.)

i think it was a lead "ball" type button due to it somewhat flattened shape and the area where the screw back would fit at seems to fit the design.

 

[Iron Patch]

if a round musket type ball is put into a rifled barrel and shoved down it should have rifling grooves cut into it from the barrel lands --along its sides (of which i see none.)

i think it was a lead "ball" type button due to it somewhat flattened shape and the area where the screw back would fit at seems to fit the design.

My second guess would be a fishing weight made from a musketball. Button is way down the list for me for guesses. If it's a lead button and cast that way, what are the chances it was lost near musket balls that are about the same size, and same color? I've probably had my grubby hands over more dug buttons than anyone on this forum and that sure doesn't even whisper button to me. That said, I never say never but...

 

[ivan salis]

while some "lead ball buttons" were cast , others were not----musket balls could easily be converted into " lead ball buttons" by simple screwing in the eye hook type back piece -- thats was part of their beauty -- so long as you had a back -- and a musket ball you could make a button "in the feild"-- of course being "made' out of a lead musket ball--it of course would the same size ,color and weight as a musket ball * -- and it would must likely be on a heavy type outer coat * that the person who shot or dropped the other musket balls would have worn --and it could have easily popped off like any other type of button could =