Mystery lead

[rastinirv]

Hiya. I found this today in an area where I also found 4 minie balls, so it may be Civil War era. But I sure don't know what it is.

It's lead and has a threaded bit and looks like it once had another; you can see where it is broken off.

Any ideas? Thank you!

 

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[Iron Patch]

Don't know, but he's one eyed and happy to see ya!

 

[BosnMate]

For some unknown reason, someone poured melted lead into a screw hole

 

[adalabama]

looks like a putter?


Oh nevermind, it would be a doll putter

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Rastinirv sent me a PM asking me to examine his find.

I have to say, I've never seen anything like it before. It is an interesting mystery. Here are my observations and final deduction about it.

The milk-white patina indicates it is made of "pure-lead" -- not a hardened-lead alloy. As you know, pure lead is a very soft metal. That is why screws are never made of pure-lead.

Also, as you mention, it appears to have had a second "screw," which is broken off. The second "screw" is at a different angle from the other, which means that the object itself could not be screwed into something.

Therefore, as BosnMate already figured out, the only possible answer is that somebody LONG AGO poured molten lead into a notch in wood which contained two empty screw-holes. Then, over a period of many decades, the wood rotted away.

Supporting that deduction, note that the "screw" on your find has what is called wood-screw threading. (Screws made for use with a metal object have fine threading (usually 12-threads-per-inch, or more), and for use with wooden objects a screw's threading is coarse (usually 10-threads-per-inch, or less) -- like we see on your find.

 

[rastinirv]

Wow, so BosnMate was onto something there. Thanks much for the reply, Cannonball; I figure if you've never seen one before likely no one has. The place I found it has soldiers throughtout the Civil War but never saw any action. I bet it was the work of a bored soldier.

Rastinirv sent me a PM asking me to examine his find.

I have to say, I've never seen anything like it before. It is an interesting mystery. Here are my observations and fianl deduction about it.

The milk-white patina indicates it is made of "pure-lead" -- not a hardened-lead alloy. As you know, pure lead is a very soft metal. That is why screws are never made of pure-lead.

Also, as you mention, it appears to have had a second "screw," which is broken off. The second "screw" is at a different angle from the other, which means that the object itself could not be screwed into something.

Therefore, as BosnMate already figured out, the only possible answer is that somebody LONG AGO poured molten lead into a notch in wood which contained two empty screw-holes. Then, over a period of many decades, the wood rotted away.

Supporting that deduction, note that the "screw" on your find has what is called wood-screw threading. (Screws made for use with a metal object have fine threading (usually 12-threads-per-inch, or more), and for use with wooden objects a screw's threading is coarse (usually 10-threads-per-inch, or less) -- like we see on your find.

 

[BosnMate]

My first thought on your find was the threads closely resemble the threads on the screws used to hold the butt plate on musket stocks. However, my memory says the tip on your item isn't a match for a butt plate screw. So I looked up butt plate screw, and here is what I found.

This is suppose to be off a '61 Springfield rifled musket. The hole drilled in the stock would be deeper than the screw, hence it is a match. From this point the bored soldier seems to be the best guess, or possibly a repair

 

[Subterranean]

Absolutely agree with our esteemed colleagues on the theory of "a soldier attempted to repair a broken musket." If I am seeing it correctly, there was another screw hole at an angle complimenting the complete lead "screw." If the original repair was damaged, causing the original iron repair screws to be lost...then the soldier tried to melt lead into the missing screws holes to once again hold the broken musket stock together. That is my guess and I'm stickin' to it! Very cool find, Sub

 

[rastinirv]

You guys always knock me out with your knowledge. Thanks!

 

[EccentricInTexas]

I think they are right about it being lead poured into a hole. The screw looks like a Common Sheet metal screw I would say some one used some lead to patch a hole in a metal roof some time ago. Pretty neat find!!!

 

[EccentricInTexas]

After looking at it again it could be made by some one trying to fix the but of a gun. I thought the screw was a roofing screw cause of the end and roofing screws have self drilling tips. But it could have been a regular wood screw used in a pre drilled hole. I think the rife but repair idea is probably correct.

 

[unclemac]

...now just wait a minute here....that is a mighty fine lead cast of something that was screwed into wood. Take one out of the butt plates off of one of your rifles and have a look see...my rifles, or any other wood screw, wouldn't do that...wouldn't leave such a clean cast. That piece was made in a mold to look like that.

 

[rastinirv]

...now just wait a minute here....that is a mighty fine lead cast of something that was screwed into wood. Take one out of the butt plates off of one of your rifles and have a look see...my rifles, or any other wood screw, wouldn't do that...wouldn't leave such a clean cast. That piece was made in a mold to look like that.

Hmm, good point. But what if the wood around it rotted away over the years? Then it could leave a clean cast, yes?

 

[unclemac]

sure but it would have to have been poured into extraordinarily "clean" screw holes to begin with...possible but I just don't see it. this was a something not a repair.

 

[tamrock]

You think its possible it may be a lead weight part to an old fish lure?. It is small piece compared to that war nickel. I found this one with a lead weight in the nose of it.
Southern Bait Company - Joe's Old Lures

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

The reason I believe it was cast in wood which later rotted away is that it shows absolutely no sign of a mold-seam anywhere.

By the way, the "screw" part of it is approximately 7/8th-inch long, which is much shorter than any civil war era Military-rifle buttplate screw I've seen. (I mentioned civil war era only because the digger says he found it near some civil war Minie-ball bullets.)

Also, note that the rest of the object's body is curved, in three ways. So, I don't think it filled a groove in any part of a firearm.

 

[rastinirv]

The reason I believe it was cast in wood which later rotted away is that it shows absolutely no sign of a mold-seam anywhere.

By the way, the "screw" part of it is approximately 7/8th-inch long, which is much shorter than any civil war era Military-rifle buttplate screw I've seen. (I mentioned civil war era only because the digger says he found it near some civil war Minie-ball bullets.)

Also, note that the rest of the object's body is curved, in three ways. So, I don't think it filled a groove in any part of a firearm.

The mystery lingers. And I'll be putting up another piece of lead I found today in the same area in a little bit.

 

[unclemac]

it doesn't seem to taper like a screw either....