Musket ball or modern shot?

[JccEldreth]

It measures 7/16 on an inch.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

A Handbook of Civil War Bullets and Cartridges - Grab it through Amazon!

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Probably old, possibly not. Third choice is modern musket ball (I still hunt with a flintlock smooth long gun during regular deer season).

Appears to have a cupped rammer mark - which may indicate modern, as few original .43 caliber smooth firearms would have used a metal cupped tip. I don't see rifling, and "muskets" (military smoothbores) didn't come in that small of caliber.

However, if it is "smushed" around the edges it may be a ball from a .44 caliber percussion. The ring is indicative of the loading lever plunger. The would take micrometer measurements.

 

[MidMoTreasure]

Looks to me like a ball for a .44 pistol. As Charlie P. noted, I cannot see any rifling marks (a Colt Army revolver would have rifling). The ball does have lead oxidation, and it has that gunky "woods patina" caused by decaying organic material that we typically see on lead items found in the woods. I recommend cleaning off the organic matter by soaking the ball in a mixture of boiling water and diswasher liquid detergent for 30 minutes or so. The organic matter will come off, but it will not harm the white lead oxide. With the organic matter removed, you may be able to see rifling or patch marks. I have found modern balls that are around 50 years old or so, and they do not have the level of oxidation as your ball has. In my opinion, it is old.

 

[JccEldreth]

Looks to me like a ball for a .44 pistol. As Charlie P. noted, I cannot see any rifling marks (a Colt Army revolver would have rifling). The ball does have lead oxidation, and it has that gunky "woods patina" caused by decaying organic material that we typically see on lead items found in the woods. I recommend cleaning off the organic matter by soaking the ball in a mixture of boiling water and diswasher liquid detergent for 30 minutes or so. The organic matter will come off, but it will not harm the white lead oxide. With the organic matter removed, you may be able to see rifling or patch marks. I have found modern balls that are around 50 years old or so, and they do not have the level of oxidation as your ball has. In my opinion, it is old.

By your command, lord Vader. Boiled and re cleaned.
What do you think? I am thinking not that old...
Thanks,

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Looking more ornamental and less firearm related. The circles seem to be a geometric pattern.

 

[JccEldreth]

Looking more ornamental and less firearm related. The circles seem to be a geometric pattern.

It does look like a tiny bocco ball, but what would it be doing way down a hunting trail deep into the woods? There was a old school house near by in the 1940's and the trail could have been the road to the school, but the circles are to prefect to be hand made. Crazy.

 

[SkaBa]

View attachment 1440772View attachment 1440773
View attachment 1440774View attachment 1440775
By your command, lord Vader. Boiled and re cleaned.
What do you think? I am thinking not that old...
Thanks,

Curious, if this is lead then why do the 'circles' look rusted? Am I not seeing this correctly?

 

[smokeythecat]

Methinks old.

 

[JccEldreth]

Curious, if this is lead then why do the 'circles' look rusted? Am I not seeing this correctly?

Brown organic matter, it is not magnetic at all, almost sure it is lead. Got some of it off, but not all.

 

[JccEldreth]

Methinks old.

But old what? Would a musket ball have circles carved into it?