Piece of a mid-1800's Trigger guard, perhaps?

[Iron Buzz]

Found in a field where soldiers camped in 1862 in Minnesota. Minie balls and other heavy lead bullets were found in the area.

My hand was about 1 foot away from the trash can when I stopped and said, "Hmm... could it be?" What do you guys think?

 

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[NOLA_Ken]

maybe? hard to say for sure

 

[Iron Buzz]

Went back there today and my buddy found another one. Seems doubtful to me now that these are both trigger guards, but what ARE they? Notice the notches in this one



Incidentally, these are both brass.

 

[jwarner51]

They sure do look like the ones I find from circa 1850. Of course I think yours are broken. To me, the size and thickness of the material matches what I’ve found in the past, and I have found full trigger guards so I know that they are for sure them. Great finds! No go get a complete one or even better, a nice brass buttplate.

 

[l.cutler]

That is quite small to be part of a triggerguard. Maybe part of a drawer pull?

 

[Iron Buzz]

They sure do look like the ones I find from circa 1850. Of course I think yours are broken. To me, the size and thickness of the material matches what I’ve found in the past, and I have found full trigger guards so I know that they are for sure them. Great finds! No go get a complete one or even better, a nice brass buttplate.

Nope. As I said earlier, some 3-ringers, which are very rare here in Minnesota, and one guy got the back plate from a 2-piece button with a John Boner backmark. However, there was no battle here... just an encampment.

 

[Iron Buzz]

Went back there today and my buddy found another one. Seems doubtful to me now that these are both trigger guards, but what ARE they? Notice the notches in this one

View attachment 1819126

Incidentally, these are both brass.

OK, a 3rd one of these has been found. The third one was broken off just above the topmost notch. That's three of these, and all three came from a relatively small area where about a dozen Minie balls and other Civil War bullets have been found. I don't know if anybody is following this thread anymore but I hope so. Surely somebody knows what this is. (I'm certain that it is not a trigger guard, by the way)

This is the 3rd one:

 

[DCMatt]

If you found 3 it must be an issued item.

My first thought was 'shell extractor' or some type of gun tool. Obviously brass was a poor choice of material as they bent and broke easily under pressure.

Do you know who was camped there? Infantry? Cavalry?

 

[NOLA_Ken]

pieces of broken spurs maybe? Dunno, that notched one seems like I've seen something similar, but I can't think of what it was

 

[Iron Buzz]

If you found 3 it must be an issued item.

My first thought was 'shell extractor' or some type of gun tool. Obviously brass was a poor choice of material as they bent and broke easily under pressure.

Do you know who was camped there? Infantry? Cavalry?

My understanding is that it was Infantry. 9th Regiment, Minnesota Infantry

 

[DCMatt]

I posted on this thread again yesterday. No idea what happened to that one. Anyway...

I looked at this for a while. I can't figure out any Army issued item it would be part of. The notched end seems to fit into something

You say found "in a small area". 10 yards radius or 100? Just looking for a clue if they were all part of the same item - like parts from a camp stove.

If a wider area, maybe part of a popular sutler's item like a candle stick or lantern. I even looked at folding spoons and forks.

I also considered that a muster point for one war is likely still good for the next war. So I looked at Spanish-American and WWI items.

Bottom line - I'm clueless...

 

[Iron Buzz]

I posted on this thread again yesterday. No idea what happened to that one. Anyway...

I looked at this for a while. I can't figure out any Army issued item it would be part of. The notched end seems to fit into something

You say found "in a small area". 10 yards radius or 100? Just looking for a clue if they were all part of the same item - like parts from a camp stove.

If a wider area, maybe part of a popular sutler's item like a candle stick or lantern. I even looked at folding spoons and forks.

I also considered that a muster point for one war is likely still good for the next war. So I looked at Spanish-American and WWI items.

Bottom line - I'm clueless...

I appreciate everyone trying to help me figure this thing out. I was deliberately vague in saying "small area" because, 1) it is a plowed field and items move around, and 2) I only found one of them myself. All three were found by different people that simply pointed to the area when I asked where they dug it.

As far as I've read, this area was only used one time during the Minnesota "Dakota Uprising" in 1862. Because of its location, it may have been a regular overnight stopping spot but we didn't see evidence of that. I do know that there were about 150 wagons with civilian survivors there during the one encampment that I read about.

To make sure I wasn't mistaken, last night I made some tiny scratches on mine and examined them with a loupe and confirmed that it is cast brass (or possibly bronze). This is driving me nuts!

By the way, is it possible for a mod to alter the title of this thread? I'm afraid the current title may only be attracting the interest of those that know something about guns and it might help to open it up to a bigger audience.

 

[DCMatt]

I just read a little about Minnesota infantry being mustered in to service and sent to fight the natives. Interesting stuff.

there were about 150 wagons with civilian survivors there during the one encampment

This statement kinda changes the narrative...

I suggest making a new post with as much backstory as you can tell. Maybe even delete this thread.

 

[DCMatt]

BTW - Find one of these is curious. Finding three is a mystery.

 

[Iron Buzz]

I just read a little about Minnesota infantry being mustered in to service and sent to fight the natives. Interesting stuff.



This statement kinda changes the narrative...

I suggest making a new post with as much backstory as you can tell. Maybe even delete this thread.

I may have already said too much if some of the curious local detectorists are eavesdropping.