Possible civil war relics?

[badcop25601]

Just started metal detecting about one month ago. We live on a steep hill, in southern West Virginia, and recently bought two lots next to our property. As there are large levels on the mountainside, I decided to start my metal detecting there. These are a few of the things I have dug up in the past couple of weeks. Any idea on what they are and maybe an age on some of them? I think the button is a Union Navy button but am not sure on the rest of the items. I am pretty new to this group but I have to admit that you guys are right... This is an addiction.

Here are some of my finds and if anyone can assist me with identifying any of them and whether or not they're from the civil war, it'd be much appreciated.

The Ring

I found this ring close to where I found a lot of the bullets. I took it to the local jewelers to see if he knew what it was and he wasn't sure however he corrected the shape, to make it look more like a ring. The symbols on the side are included in the pictures, one side is the indian symbol for a thunderbird I believe.

Miscellaneous bullets - Shotgun Shells

The writing on the bottom says U.M.C. CO '12 GAUGE' NITRO CLUB.

The writing on the bottom says western Field '16 gauge'.

The writing on the bottom says Peters Target '12 gauge'.

Solid metal casing, unsure on any details.

Miscellaneous bullets

Unfired Rem bullets

Solid white lead. Partially discolored by rust.

Small solid metal.

Civil war union navy button?

Razor

On the razor it says Gilette PAT 1920, but I think it was a cool find.

Harmonica piece

Looked this up in a book on civil war finds, but unsure whether it is truly a civil war harmonica piece

Continued below.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Upgraded Night Vision Monocular Digital Infrared Monocular Telescope for 100% Darkness with 8X Zoom - Grab it through Amazon!

[badcop25601]

Knife

This knife is one solid piece of metal with a hollow handle. It looks like the metal has been rolled to form a seam as seen in the pictures. Measured, it is 14" from end to end.

Civil War Breastplates?

Looked these up in the civil war relics book I have and it stated that towards the end of the civil war breastplates were mass produced without markings. All the breastplates I have found have been unmarked. Unsure whether these are actually breastplates so if anyone could elaborate it'd be much appreciated.

Unknown object

Flat bottomed with what look to be seams where it may have been screwed into it. Rings on the outside and small silver colored spot in the center. Main question with this piece is, is it dangerous?

Unsure on what this is.

Hooks

Thanks for any help in identifying any of these finds. Sorry the post was so long, I included my most interesting finds. If anyone has any clarity on whether this is a civil war site or not it'd be much appreciated as I don't want to continue searching if the area is unproductive.

 

[duggap]

You have some interesting old artifacts there but I don't see anything I could id as being civilwar. But you are in a good location to find cw stuff. Just keep at it and you will hit a camp site soon enough. Good luck.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

I see you're brand-new here (2 posts thus far), so first I'll say "Welcome to TreasureNet!".

My qualifications for time-dating your relics is that I've been a relic-digger and dealer for nearly 40 years. I donate my time here to assist new diggers with relic-ID because I was given LOTS of ID-help when I was new to the hobby.

Unfortunately I have to answer your question by reporting that none of your finds are from the civil war era. They appear to date from the latter-1800s into the first half of the 20th-Century. Among the oldest is your shotgun centerfire-primer cartridge base which is marked "UMC." It dates from the 1880s to the very-early 1900s. The UMC marking stands for the Union Manufacturing Company.

The bullets all appear to be from the first half of the 20th-Century. Two of them are "copper-jacketed" pistol bullets. Although .22-caliber rimfire cartridges & bullets do go back as far as the civil war, the ones you found are longer-bodied than the civil war version.

The eagle-on-an-anchor button is an imitation of an actual US Navy button. It is called a "Fashion" button, made for use on civilian clothing, particularly on imitation Navy "pea coats."

Sorry, but the iron discs are not breastplates ...which were typically made of brass. There never were any iron breastplates.

All of that having been said... please do not feel discouraged. Some of your finds are over 100 years old. Believe me, there are lots of metal detector users who didn't find anything that old in their very first month of relic-hunting.

If you especially want to go after civil war Military relics, do some historical research on your part of the state. Also, there was some civil war Military activity in southwest Virginia, particularly around Saltville. Also in particular, search for "vanished" old homesites. They've produced a surprising amount of Military relics (and old coins). Very-old County maps are a good way to locate "vanished" homesites.

 

[badcop25601]

Really appreciate all of your help. I know that just over the mountain from where I found these items, was the site of the Battle of Blair Mountain, which was a coal miner/coal mine battle. Maybe I will move up a little further, as I also found an older coal mine tag You guys are a great help. I spend most of my free time either detecting or looking on here at other finds. Again, thanks and good luck! Hope all your finds are old and gold!

 

[skeeterd]

I like the knife you found! I believe it's hand forged. Forged tools have always interested me.

 

[maxpower]

Just started metal detecting about one month ago. We live on a steep hill, in southern West Virginia, and recently bought two lots next to our property. As there are large levels on the mountainside, I decided to start my metal detecting there. These are a few of the things I have dug up in the past couple of weeks. Any idea on what they are and maybe an age on some of them? I think the button is a Union Navy button but am not sure on the rest of the items. I am pretty new to this group but I have to admit that you guys are right... This is an addiction.

Here are some of my finds and if anyone can assist me with identifying any of them and whether or not they're from the civil war, it'd be much appreciated.

The Ring

I found this ring close to where I found a lot of the bullets. I took it to the local jewelers to see if he knew what it was and he wasn't sure however he corrected the shape, to make it look more like a ring. The symbols on the side are included in the pictures, one side is the indian symbol for a thunderbird I believe.

Miscellaneous bullets - Shotgun Shells

The writing on the bottom says U.M.C. CO '12 GAUGE' NITRO CLUB.

The writing on the bottom says western Field '16 gauge'.

The writing on the bottom says Peters Target '12 gauge'.

Solid metal casing, unsure on any details.

Miscellaneous bullets

Unfired Rem bullets

Solid white lead. Partially discolored by rust.

Small solid metal.

Civil war union navy button?

Razor

On the razor it says Gilette PAT 1920, but I think it was a cool find.

Harmonica piece

Looked this up in a book on civil war finds, but unsure whether it is truly a civil war harmonica piece

Continued below.

The unknown object looks like a derailer gear for a multi speed bicycle

 

[GaRebel1861]

Keep hunting - there is still plenty of good stuff out there waiting to be found. Good luck and post it when you find it!!! Because we sure like to take a look at it.

 

[BosnMate]

I really like the knife you found. The socket handle is intriguing, if the knife is hand forged, that socket took some skill beyond the average farmer. The way the top of the blade has the ridge it kind of looks like perhaps the knife started out life as a sickle blade.

 

[kuger]

I have a Chinese Meat cleaver that is very similar to your knife,and it date's to the 1880's