My 1st Civil War Lock Plate !!!!! - **NEW PICTURES - Cleaned Lock Plate**

[ModernMiner]

Folks,
I took off a bit early from work today to get in an afternoon hunt since they are calling for snow this weekend.
I re-hit the same area of the woods where I dug the flower button, Enfield bullet, musket balls, and melted lead last Saturday.
After about two hours I only had some rusty tool pieces and a Williams cleaner to show for my efforts. Just before it was time to call it quits, I got a solid signal right next to a small tree. As expected, there were numerous tree roots to battle before I could get at the piece. What I then pulled out of the hole I could not believe!!! It was part of an old rifle.
Here's a quick video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPj8AtDjunk

What kind I have no clue. This is the first CW lock plate I've ever found, and I'm hoping that one of you CW buffs can ID it.
This piece will be a very nice addition to my CW relic display.
You can bet your bippy (showing my age) I'll be pounding those woods again.

Any idea on the age of the axe or hatch head

Thanks for looking,
MM

 

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[ModernMiner]

Re: My 1st Civil War Lock Plate !!!!! - ***VIDEO too***

Here's a pic of one I dug in the '80's It had been burnt and I found everything to the gun but the barrel. In front of the hammer is an Eagle with US below. Behind the hammer is SPRING FIELD 1852

I had to use a pistol bullet to hold the hammer up so I could scan it. Sorry about that.

Vayank54,
Thanks for posting that picture.

For those of you that guessed Springfield it looks like you are correct. After Vayank mentioned the eagle & "US" on his piece, I can see that on mine too. I see part of the eagle and clearly the "US" under it. After I run it through electrolysis, hopefully I'll see some numbers too.
Thanks everyone for the input,
MM

 

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[umrgolf]

Re: My 1st Civil War Lock Plate !!!!! - ***VIDEO too***

Outstanding save MM, never found one here

 

[IronSpike]

Re: My 1st Civil War Lock Plate !!!!! - ***VIDEO too***

Wow what a neat gun relic

Great site you got there Doug

Better hunt it good before Spring. What a little snow is going to stop you?

 

[terpfan]

Re: My 1st Civil War Lock Plate !!!!! - ***VIDEO too***

Great recovery Doug. You've come across a terrific site there. I can't wait to see the lock plate after electrolysis, it should clean up nicely.

 

[DCMatt]

Re: My 1st Civil War Lock Plate !!!!! - ***VIDEO too***

Excellent find!

Here's a chart for axe styles. Hard to date them. You typically have to rely on other relics to determine the date.



I have a Jersey axe head that a buddy dug last year. My best guess is mine is from the 20's or 30's. I threw it in a fire to cook the rust off, bought a new handle, put an edge on it, and it is the sweetest swinging axe I have ever had in my hands.

DCMatt

 

[civilman1]

Re: My 1st Civil War Lock Plate !!!!! - ***VIDEO too***

Awesome lockplate Doug....I'll need to check out the vid a little later tonight.Great save

 

[Mirage]

Re: My 1st Civil War Lock Plate !!!!! - ***VIDEO too***

Good thing you had that Tesoro - My ML would have told me it was some iron junk and don't dig it.

Bob

 

[allen]

Re: My 1st Civil War Lock Plate !!!!! - ***VIDEO too***

that will be a heck of a coversational piece !!!

 

[JerV3]

Re: My 1st Civil War Lock Plate !!!!! - ***VIDEO too***

That is a nice relic MM.

I guess when you are cw hunting you have to dig it all. Lot more iron keepers. I dig every thing above iron. My 9 yr old son likes your videos also. I was leaving for work yesterday. He was sitting at the computer looking at your videos.

HH Jer

 

[CMDiamonddawg]

Re: My 1st Civil War Lock Plate !!!!! - ***VIDEO too***

Oh Yeah Springfield lockplate a great recovery plus video story You find some nice stuff! MM

 

[vibes]

Re: My 1st Civil War Lock Plate !!!!! - ***VIDEO too***

WOW...i've only found a partial one.
(upper right hand in the photo)


WTG!

 

[ModernMiner]

Re: My 1st Civil War Lock Plate !!!!! - ***VIDEO too***

Excellent find!

Here's a chart for axe styles. Hard to date them. You typically have to rely on other relics to determine the date.




I have a Jersey axe head that a buddy dug last year. My best guess is mine is from the 20's or 30's. I threw it in a fire to cook the rust off, bought a new handle, put an edge on it, and it is the sweetest swinging axe I have ever had in my hands.

DCMatt

Matt,
Thanks for that chart. I think mine looks a lot like the Virginia or NC one.
-Doug-

 

[olepossum]

Re: My 1st Civil War Lock Plate !!!!! - ***VIDEO too***

the ave head look more like a riflemans axe head like from the rev war days or 1812 era

 

[Michiganne]

Re: My 1st Civil War Lock Plate !!!!! - ***VIDEO too***

That's one enviable relic, Doug. WTG! And if you're a true Hoosier you shouldn't let a little snow bother you.

Keep digging!

 

[watercolor]

Re: My 1st Civil War Lock Plate !!!!! - ***VIDEO too***

WOW!!

Excellent recovery I can only dream of finding something like that up around Chicago

 

[ModernMiner]

Re: My 1st Civil War Lock Plate !!!!! - ***VIDEO too***

Big Congrats Doug on one Sweet find! I would love to find one of those!

Rob,
If I know you, it's just a matter of time.
Thanks,
Doug

Awesome lockplate Doug....I'll need to check out the vid a little later tonight.Great save

Thanks Joe,
Now where is the rest of that rifle?
-Doug-

Good thing you had that Tesoro - My ML would have told me it was some iron junk and don't dig it.

Bob

That's why you need to downsize to a basic Tesoro Bob. Even us poor folk get lucky sometimes.
Come on down buddy,
Doug

That is a nice relic MM.

I guess when you are cw hunting you have to dig it all. Lot more iron keepers. I dig every thing above iron. My 9 yr old son likes your videos also. I was leaving for work yesterday. He was sitting at the computer looking at your videos.

HH Jer

Jer,
Tell your son "thank you" for me. I'm glad I have at least one fan. My brother says I say "uh" in my videos too much. He doesn't understand I'm just stalling while I think of what to say next. A news anchorman I'm not.

As far as digging iron, I must admit I don't dig it as much as I should, but after this find I'll be digging a lot more.
Thanks,
MM

Oh Yeah Springfield lockplate a great recovery plus video story You find some nice stuff! MM

Thanks CMD. You too very well yourself. Keep it up.
-Doug-

WOW...i've only found a partial one.
(upper right hand in the photo)

WTG!

Nice digs Vibe. I'd expect that from a fellow Hoosier though. GO COLTS!!!!
-MM-

the ave head look more like a riflemans axe head like from the rev war days or 1812 era

Now that would be cool. I did find a nice 1812 artillery button at this property before too.
-MM-

That's one enviable relic, Doug. WTG! And if you're a true Hoosier you shouldn't let a little snow bother you.

Keep digging!

Sorry Mich, you're right. What kind of Hoosier am I anyways. I laugh at snow!!!
-Doug-

 

[ModernMiner]

Re: My 1st Civil War Lock Plate !!!!! - ***VIDEO too***

WOW!!

Excellent recovery I can only dream of finding something like that up around Chicago

Yeah, but think of all of those Al Capone bullets & guns you can dig up there in Chi town.
Have they got those roads paved yet? They look the same now as when I was a kid.
-MM-

 

[ModernMiner]

Re: My 1st Civil War Lock Plate !!!!! - ***VIDEO too***

Here's a great link I found with some pictures & info on CW era tools.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.libertyrifles.org/research/dugtools/hatchet7.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.libertyrifles.org/research/dugtools.html&usg=__x6dhXHZBTT_UkAlIrHYI-wGpTLM=&h=600&w=800&sz=44&hl=en&start=22&sig2=bYyZu456Y9dzYUUyA_QeCA&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=4p1iKzfYxV9zMM:&tbnh=107&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcivil%2Bwar%2Bera%2Bhatchet%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26start%3D18%26um%3D1&ei=0NpgS7_iC6Sltge5qdjYDQ

I think my axe head & hatch head piece match what is shown on the link. I'm just saying.
They were both found on the same hill with the other CW relics.
-MM-

 

[John (Ma)]

Re: My 1st Civil War Lock Plate !!!!! - ***VIDEO too***

Awsome relics and video! Love seeing those Tesoro's out there finding the goods!

 

[vayank54]

Re: My 1st Civil War Lock Plate !!!!! - ***VIDEO too***

Lot's of times those ax heads broke as a result of being used for splitting mauls. If you look at the lat pic of the ax head where it shows the top you can see the seam on each side of the handle opening. I don't kow if this will help anyone but when I use my Tesoro for civil war relics I set the discriminator just a bit above where it rejects nails. That way you are less likely to miss gun wrenches, parts and other good iron relics.