U.S. Box Plate & Artillery Hammer Dug on Tenn. Trio -1 Hunt at CSA Camp Today

VOL1266-X

Gold Member
Jan 10, 2007
5,589
2,910
Northern Middle Tennessee
Detector(s) used
Fisher 1266-X, F75 X 2
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
The Tenn. Trio planned a hunt today at a Gen. John Hunt Morgan CSA camp. Josh was sick and felt too weak to hunt so Dman and I headed out to the site to hunt 2-3 hours. Initially, Doug had all the luck with an iron hammer that I recognized as a possible artilleryman’s hammer. Josh had dug an iron artillery gimlet in that camp last year and Doug recovered an iron canister ball there recently so we know Confederate artillery was camped there with the cavalry. After Doug recovered the hammer, he found a dropped .58 3 ringer, .36 cal. Colt pistol bullet plus an old pocketknife.
Ever have a day when you can’t seem get the coil over a good signal no matter how hard you tried? This morning, I couldn’t buy a bullet and Doug even shared some likely signals late in the hunt as we have always done if one Trio member seems to have all the luck. We were on the way back to the truck when I got a solid signal of 66-72 on the F75 display. It was only 6-7 inches deep and seemed too high a reading for a bullet-even a Gardner. Doug was in the process of digging another signal only about 15 feet away. I could not believe what I saw come out of the hole. Ironically, I have dug thousands of relics since I started relic hunting in 1995 including 2 state veteran pins, 3 breastplates, 1851 sword belt plate, CS plain brass militia buckle, many buttons, all the other relics on my profile page This is the FIRST relic I have dug with a U.S. on it. Tennessee Digger (Donnie) has had faith I would dig one and said it would happen at an unlikely place and time. Boy, was he right. Josh had a relapse after Doug called and told him what we had found today-LOL. HH from the Tennessee Trio and the upcoming Nov.-Dec. issue of North South Trader’s Civil War Magazine has my article “Christmas with Gen. Morgan” involving some Tennessee Trio hunts featured in it.

 

Attachments

  • DSCN0121 (640x472).jpg
    DSCN0121 (640x472).jpg
    132.3 KB · Views: 203
  • DSCN0123.JPG
    DSCN0123.JPG
    365.8 KB · Views: 248
Upvote 1
Nice saves and vid. I would love a box plate in any shape!
 

Congrats on the US Boxplate Quindy :occasion14:

I have never dug a US box or beltplate myself despite having dug 3 CS plates and a VMM beltplate!
 

US box plate and that old CW artie hammer :o damn good hunt Tenn. Trio ;) that's some serious relic hunting gents . There ya go Q ,, getting that plate puts you one step closer to snagging that elusive CSA buckle :o

:skullflag: CMDdawg
 

Way to go Guys!!! A big high 5 on the US box plate and that hammer. This was certainly a great day of hunting for you and Dman.
I hope some day I can dig a Yankee box plate.

Q-
If you don't keep Yankee CW relics then just send it to me.

Way to go Big Guy!!!!
-MM-
 

Well heck yeah! Quindy I bet you have been grinning ear to ear ever since you pulled that one from the ground...awesome! Tell Dman that the hammer is way cool also. The trio is having quite a fall hunting season. Congrats!!!!!
 

WOW! Quite a day!! BIG Congrats to both of you on some Scarce finds! Have not seen that style of hammer before, but hoping for good news on the ID. Looks right to me, but I couldn't find a photo of one in my resources here at the house.

That's a hell of a day.


Now, I haven't dug a plate in a while after my Kentucky streak...so maybe you should change your name to Buckleboy and I can be SpanishSilverDude or PelicanGuy. :D

Cheers,


Buck
 

Good save on the box plate, Quindy! HH
 

That was a fun hunt. With regards to your hammer .. and not to burst a bubble .. I think that may be a wagon hammer, and not an artillery hammer.
 

That was a fun hunt. With regards to your hammer .. and not to burst a bubble .. I think that may be a wagon hammer, and not an artillery hammer.
Rob, I sent 2 local relic dealers a pic when I got home and they said even though they are called "artillery hamers" or sometimes "toe hammers" that they were blacksmith made and had many uses so I'm sure you are correct as to wagon use. Thanks, Q. .

 

Rob, I sent 2 local relic dealers a pic when I got home and they said even though they are called "artillery hamers" or sometimes "toe hammers" that they were blacksmith made and had many uses so I'm sure you are correct as to wagon use. Thanks, Q. .


Cool .. I was mainly making my judgement by the flattened "screwdriver" end .. a feature I have only seen on wagon hammers.. but as you say, they may have been universal.
 

Cool .. I was mainly making my judgement by the flattened "screwdriver" end .. a feature I have only seen on wagon hammers.. but as you say, they may have been universal.
Rob, the screwdriver end is apparently a trademark of those hammers. I found this on Ebay with references to like examples in Crouch's and Phillip's books. What would we do without you, kuger, and Cannoball Guy? You 3 are great resorces. Thanks, Q.
CIVIL WAR PERIOD IRON ARTILLERY HAMMER
 

As an eBay Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
CONGRATS Q on ur 1st plate!!! Hopefully there r more come bud.. HH
 

Nice finds! I'm still waiting on my first plate . . . soon, soon.
 

Killer video and finds Congrates guy's.....................HH
 

Great hunt guys and congratulations Quindy on the box plate. Looks like they stole the lead out of the back of it and cast a few rounds for their newly aquired cartridge bag. Nice period hammer as well on the relic rag. You guys are cranking it out. Be safe and good hunts.
TnMtns
 

Wat to go guys!!!!! congrats on the plate!!!
 

Great hunt guys and congratulations Quindy on the box plate. Looks like they stole the lead out of the back of it and cast a few rounds for their newly aquired cartridge bag. Nice period hammer as well on the relic rag. You guys are cranking it out. Be safe and good hunts.
TnMtns

Thanks Richard. Actually, most of the lead is on the back with the exception of one end as shown in the pic. Like the breastplate that I dug in August, this one is cupped in with the brass inside. It's like the metal in a thermocouple where expansion between two metals distorts the plate over time. HH, Q.
 

Attachments

  • DSCN0125 (640x480).jpg
    DSCN0125 (640x480).jpg
    91.3 KB · Views: 150

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Latest Discussions

Back
Top