Interesting piece of Lead...

[Swartzie]

Dug this interesting piece of lead near the banks of the Tuscarawas river here in Tuscarawas county Ohio (these banks have seen lots of history). Besides being a neat piece of lead does anyone have any guesses as to what it may have been used for? I was thinking maybe a squashed slug, but it looks to uniform for something like that. Or maybe a fishing sinker of some sort, but where would the line be attached? In the first picture it almost looks like the lead has been pushed in and up by a finger or something. That's what has me curious.

Thanks for looking.
-Swartzie

 

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[Swartzie]

Oh. Forgot to mention. The diameter is 3/4".
-Swartzie

 

[traderoftreasures]

just a wild guess it could have been a slug shot into water..

 

[RPG]

I don't think it's all that old. Anyone hunting with muzzleloaders in the area? I think I see the impression of the patch in the second pic. Probably a 50 cal. round ball shot from a modern muzzleloader. IMO

Randy

 

[Swartzie]

I don't think it's all that old. Anyone hunting with muzzleloaders in the area? I think I see the impression of the patch in the second pic. Probably a 50 cal. round ball shot from a modern muzzleloader. IMO

Randy

Yep. There are muzzleload hunters in the area. Most relic hunting I do is in public hunting type areas. Funny how many old home sites are in such areas (at least around here). If I had a nickle for every casing I dug I'd be on my way to buying a new machine.

Thanks for the input. Now I know what a shot ball looks like. Given the condition of it, I didn't think it was that old.

-Swartzie

 

[IronSpike]

Was it dug shiny like that or was patina removed?

 

[CRUSADER]

Melted beer can. Doesn't look lead to me

 

[RPG]

I don't think it's all that old. Anyone hunting with muzzleloaders in the area? I think I see the impression of the patch in the second pic. Probably a 50 cal. round ball shot from a modern muzzleloader. IMO

Randy

Yep. There are muzzleload hunters in the area. Most relic hunting I do is in public hunting type areas. Funny how many old home sites are in such areas (at least around here). If I had a nickle for every casing I dug I'd be on my way to buying a new machine.

Thanks for the input. Now I know what a shot ball looks like. Given the condition of it, I didn't think it was that old.

-Swartzie

I've taken many deer with muzzleloaders and a round ball will flatten exactly like that when it passes through, as long as it doesn't hit a bone. The imprint of the patch is obvious in the second pic.

 

[CRUSADER]

I don't think it's all that old. Anyone hunting with muzzleloaders in the area? I think I see the impression of the patch in the second pic. Probably a 50 cal. round ball shot from a modern muzzleloader. IMO

Randy

Yep. There are muzzleload hunters in the area. Most relic hunting I do is in public hunting type areas. Funny how many old home sites are in such areas (at least around here). If I had a nickle for every casing I dug I'd be on my way to buying a new machine.

Thanks for the input. Now I know what a shot ball looks like. Given the condition of it, I didn't think it was that old.

-Swartzie

I've taken many deer with muzzleloaders and a round ball will flatten exactly like that when it passes through, as long as it doesn't hit a bone. The imprint of the patch is obvious in the second pic.

oh yeah, is it newer lead & not so pure?

 

[Swartzie]

Was it dug shiny like that or was patina removed?

It was pretty shiny right out of the ground.
-Swartzie

 

[IronSpike]

Was it dug shiny like that or was patina removed?

It was pretty shiny right out of the ground.
-Swartzie

I think RPG got it right with fired modern musket ball

 

[RPG]

I don't think it's all that old. Anyone hunting with muzzleloaders in the area? I think I see the impression of the patch in the second pic. Probably a 50 cal. round ball shot from a modern muzzleloader. IMO

Randy

Yep. There are muzzleload hunters in the area. Most relic hunting I do is in public hunting type areas. Funny how many old home sites are in such areas (at least around here). If I had a nickle for every casing I dug I'd be on my way to buying a new machine.

Thanks for the input. Now I know what a shot ball looks like. Given the condition of it, I didn't think it was that old.

-Swartzie

I've taken many deer with muzzleloaders and a round ball will flatten exactly like that when it passes through, as long as it doesn't hit a bone. The imprint of the patch is obvious in the second pic.

oh yeah, is it newer lead & not so pure?

Yeap. Probably shot recently. They are the same color when new. Pure lead is hard to find in the U.S.A.

Unless, of coarse, you have a metal detector.

 

[dick99344]

I don't think it's all that old. Anyone hunting with muzzleloaders in the area? I think I see the impression of the patch in the second pic. Probably a 50 cal. round ball shot from a modern muzzleloader. IMO

Randy

Yep. There are muzzleload hunters in the area. Most relic hunting I do is in public hunting type areas. Funny how many old home sites are in such areas (at least around here). If I had a nickle for every casing I dug I'd be on my way to buying a new machine.

Thanks for the input. Now I know what a shot ball looks like. Given the condition of it, I didn't think it was that old.

-Swartzie

I've taken many deer with muzzleloaders and a round ball will flatten exactly like that when it passes through, as long as it doesn't hit a bone. The imprint of the patch is obvious in the second pic.

oh yeah, is it newer lead & not so pure?

Yeap. Probably shot recently. They are the same color when new. Pure lead is hard to find in the U.S.A.

Unless, of coarse, you have a metal detector.

I agree. Looks like patch impressions. Dead lead will really expand on impact. I for one would not want to be hit with it. If I can find them, I will post photos of a 525 grain .54 cal TC Maxie Ball penetrator, and a 430 grain .54 cal.TC Hollow base-Hollow point. The hollow point makes a very wicked wound channel. These bullets do not require a patch as they are conical. I have shot round balls at targets with a steel back stop so I could recover the lead. They do expand in size.