Help Identify Implement/Date Bullet Cartridge

[Jarl]

Here are a few items that my friend, Mr. Miller, found. The implement, appears to be nothing more than a forge beaten rod, fanned out into a fish tail-hatchet-hoe shape. Not sure what this would have been used for, but if you have ideas and have seen one used on farms or whatever I am interested in your ideas. Also, I am pretty sure that this is a large cal. bullet casing. If not, well, sure looks like one anyway. I set it up next to a few other rounds, one being a 762 x 39 Wolf, for size comparison. It has quite a bore. The primer appears to be inserted from the projectile end, so, when did they stop doing this?? Basically, I know that someone should be able to date this IF it is a bullet cartridge. In the vertical picture you might not be able to see that there is a indentation ring all the way around just about 3/16" up from the rim. Not sure if this was manufactured this way or a result of being fired. Otherwise, maybe it is a dangerous looking umbrella cap lol.

Any suggestion and comments greatly appreciated. If you need more specific data let me know.

 

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[Jarl]

Sorry, my close up pics were a little blurry.

 

[mojjax]

The metal thing looks like a Spud bark tool

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

It does appear to be a cartridge-casing. It looks to be in the .50-caliber to .58 calber size range ...and being the very-long-but-non-necked type, that means 1870s/1880s. We need you to provide super-precise measurement (in hundredths-of-an-inch) of its length and the open end's diameter to give you a specific identification. You'll need to use digital calipers for that kind of measuring.

I can only barely see the "indentation ring" you mention being about 3/16" up from your casing's base-rim. In the photo it doesn't appear to "go all the way around" the casing's body. If it doesn't, and I had to make a guess without knowing the casing's precise measurements, I'd say it is a "Benet-primed" .50-70 Rifle cartridge-casing. The Benet-primer type was first manufactured in 1868 and continued into the 1870s. See the info and photos of some .50-70 cartridges at the following website link ...but note, they are unfired, and yours is fired, with what appears to be a firing-pin mark showing in the center of your casing's base): THE CARTRIDGE COLLECTOR

I'll be interested in hearing your casing's super-precise measurements, and if necessary I'll change my preliminary guess.

 

[Jarl]

Ok, TheCannonballGuy, thanks for the response. I have calipers and micrometers, can get down to '.0000' if need be(father was a machinist for 35 years...lucky me). Anyway, there is a problem with the open end diameter, seeing that it is dented. There also is a dent in the middle of the side. I'll do my best. What about weight? I have a very accurate digital scale I can use(use it to identify some coins by weight). Also, on the link you sent, the picture of five rounds lined up, at best guess the second from the left seems closest to what I have. Lastly, the casing appears to be copper and not brass. I'll get back with the measurements a little later tonight. Thanks again for the response! (I'm going detecting while it's still light out)

 

[Jarl]

Thanks Mojjax for your response! Never heard of a 'Spud bark' tool.

 

[allen_idaho]

Looks like a .50-70 cartridge.

 

[Jarl]

Ok, took a few measurements on the cartridge. The opened end: D = .50" and the height = 1.75".

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Jarl, thank you for making the super-precise measurements. They confirm that my preliminary guess was correct. The text at the webpage I gave the link for says, "A friend recently found a couple of 1.337" long Benet-primed .50 cases, along with some Benet-primed .50-70 (1.75") cases, while metal detecting the possible site of a military skirmish with Indians in Wyoming."

And your guess is correct, your casing is indeed the second one from the left in the photo on that webpage, except that yours is fired and thus has the rifle's firing-pin mark on its flat base.

 

[Jarl]

Thanks CannonBallGuy! I wonder if there are more in the area it was found. Going to check this weekend.