Iron Trigger Guard Or What?

[tymcmurray]

Found this at Antietam and initially thought of a trigger
guard, but can't find any like it. It is not broken anywhere
that I can see.
Any help is appreciated!

 

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[BuckleBoy]

That's certainly what it looks like.

 

[oldfireguy]

Looks more like a butt plate.

 

[traderoftreasures]

could have been a handle for a top of a old cast iron stove

 

[dkw]

Looks more like a butt plate.

Agreed

 

[goldguru]

wall mount coat hook?

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Looks more like a butt plate.

Agreed

I thought that myself but not enough holes. Its probably a broken trigger guard.

 

[dcinffxva]

Way too much curve for a butt plate. It looks like part of a trigger guard to me. Here are both parts from a US model 1861/1863 musket to compare.

 

[tymcmurray]

Thanks for the comparison.

 

[creskol]

It looks to me like the one end may have broken off. If so, it would be my guess that it is a door or gate handle, and may have looked like the reconstruction shown below.

 

[Hutch911]

Could be a trigger guard. Hard to tell with alot of it missing.

 

[Buck Bagaw]

Not a butt plate. I believe it to be a trigger guard broken at mid-bow.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

This is a better example. Of course this one is brass. http://hunting.about.com/library/weekly/aamuzzlekit_8.htm

 

[jamesabrt]

I'm not an expert by no means, but I like to check out antique firearms auctions and the object you have very closely resembles the lever on a Rolling Block rifle. If you just go to any antique firearms site, you can compare your find to one of them. Since you found it at Atietam, it's a good possibility.
I hope this helps a little.

 

[Buck Bagaw]

The Remington Rolling Block was first put into production in 1866. They came along a bit late for the CW. You are probably thinking about the Sharps model 1859 which has a triggerguard lever (Rolling Block doesn't) and was used by the US Berdan Sharpshooters.

 

[jamesabrt]

You're right Buck, I got my years mixed up on the rolling block, but it's still a possibility for the Sharps that you mention.