✅ SOLVED Unidentified Found Object (UFO)

[Steve in PA]

I found this piece in Hampton Virginia a couple weeks ago on a site that was producing primarily very late 18th century to 1820s items. There were however some earlier and later things that have come from this site.
This piece has me stumped

It is brass, and has a cavity that goes into the "block". The block is .850" and the cavity goes into it .740". The "tab" behind the block had an iron pin that went through it at one time.

 

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[HuntinDog]

Half of a Bullet mold perhaps

 

[BosnMate]

The way it appears to open it couldn't be used to cast round balls, so I don't think bullet mold. Beyond that I'm stumped.

 

[HuntinDog]

Ya Bosn I was thinking the same thing. It would hinge the wrong way.
Oh well I was just a guess...

 

[Steve in PA]

I was hunting with Josh (Sentinel) when I found it. He thought it might be some sort of mold.

 

[Coilcrazy2]

Yea it looks like it could be a round ball mold but I have no idea...A really interesting piece, I hope somebody can ID shortly! Great find Steve in Pa!
CC

 

[TomPA]

Could it be a bullet mold such as these? The existing thin arm would have had a wood handle, and it appears that the top lever is missing.
1) Colt mold for an 1860 Army revolver, steel dual cavity construction with "COLT'S/PATENT" on the sprue cutter and "44H/S" on the right side. 2) Starr 36 caliber mold, brass body with a single conical cavity, steel cutter and a wooden handle. 3) Starr 44 caliber mold.

 

[tamrock]

I don't know, but being brass and all with odd shapes. I'm thinking it's possibly small specialized anvil of some type that would be used buy a silversmith, metal smith or maybe jeweler. Also when ww2 was on there were many ammunition plants across the country and I lived close to one growing up. We found odd things and tools made of brass and copper. I was told the items we found were used at the ammunition plant and were made be non sparking. My friend found an open-end wrench made of bronze.

 

[SkySgt]

A cigar end trimmer? Something similar to this antique one.

Victorian Silver Cigar Cheroot Cutter Fob Lever Action | eBay

 

[jambone]

I have to agree with TomPA - I think it's a bullet mold (not all bullets are round balls).

In the 3rd pic of the original post, just to the bottom right of the big round hole, does it look like there might have been a small pin there? Kinda like this:

 

[geologyjohn]

TomPA (supported by jamboree) nailed it.

 

[BosnMate]

I believe you are right, it's a bullet mold, which dates it much later than the early 1800's. Elongated bullets didn't come
about until later, early on there were muzzle loader bullets called "picket bullets," but they had points. Your mold has to
after the 1850's. On those posted photos, do you have any dates?

 

[GTK96]

Hamptons pretty close to me but I ain't never seen anything like that come from it haha

 

[ResurrectedVirginia]

I agree with the bullet mold. One thing to think of to is wear patterns. Your brass find in the 3rd pic down has a brown looking circle shape which suggests a turning or rotating part. The rusted out pin in the center of the brown circle also suggests a pivot point.

 

[TomPA]

The Starr 44 cal Army Revolver was a popular firearm during the American Civil War-1863-64.

 

[Acaldwell32]

Yep, looks like a bullet mold

 

[tamrock]

no doubt T.PA has the proof. Good Job!

 

[Steve in PA]

Thanks Gentlemen, a bullet mold it is. A quick check of the opening with calipers this morning shows the base to be about .44.
It also has the little protruded rim that you find at the very base of the Starr bullet. I still plan to pour something in it and get a casting.
So I am pretty happy with this little relic. It will be a nice addition to my dug CW relic collection

 

[Mach1Pilot]

Nice find, Steve! And great ID work fellers.