🔎 UNIDENTIFIED Revolutionary War musket ball? Found in Valley Forge PA, private permission 1757 home.

[NjPhunter]

Hey all,
Found this musket ball, along with what looks like a button? Musket ball measures 0.63" inches in diameter. The property is in the village of Valley Forge on grounds that were traversed and stayed on during the Revolutionary War. The home I detected was built in 1757, and Washington and others visited the tavern next door at the time. Could I say with confidence it is from the Revolutionary War? Research looks like this size musket was used in Charleville-style French muskets in the war. Button looking item is also pictured if can help ID.

 

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[ncsuwolf]

Congrats on the finds. I’ll start by saying I’ve been taught a lot by folks on this site, but there are many on here that know more than me. Few observations……while the location of the find allows the opportunity that the ball may have been related to rev war, I know of no way to 100% say for sure. Second, you say the dia of the ball is .63”. With patina taken into consideration, that ball was likely used for a .64 or .65 firearm. I think most standard military muskets were .69 or bigger. Certainly multiple calibers of firearms were brought to/used in the rev war, so .64-.65 isn’t out of realm of possibility. Third, is that a “x” I see at the 4:00 next to the rim on the face of the button? Tried looking in button books, but haven’t found anything yet.

Hopefully someone else will weigh in with more insight on the ball and button.

 

[NjPhunter]

Congrats on the finds. I’ll start by saying I’ve been taught a lot by folks on this site, but there are many on here that know more than me. Few observations……while the location of the find allows the opportunity that the ball may have been related to rev war, I know of no way to 100% say for sure. Second, you say the dia of the ball is .63”. With patina taken into consideration, that ball was likely used for a .64 or .65 firearm. I think most standard military muskets were .69 or bigger. Certainly multiple calibers of firearms were brought to/used in the rev war, so .64-.65 isn’t out of realm of possibility. Third, is that a “x” I see at the 4:00 next to the rim on the face of the button? Tried looking in button books, but haven’t found anything yet.

Hopefully someone else will weigh in with more insight on the ball and button.

Thanks for the info! It is hard to tell, but it does look like it could be an “x” in that location on the button item.