✅ SOLVED What type of weapon used this Ctg?

[Dug]

Hi;

We got into a small site where a 1855 dime, bunch of toe taps, old suspender buckle, and a large rectangular rifle sling were dug. We also dug about six of these bullet cases. By my reckoning they had a .54 or .58 bullet loaded in them. The base of the case measures 21mm and the ctg is 33mm long. As you can see the cartridge lacked a primer and whatever weapon fired it left a double strike in the center. All the ctgs had the double strike mark. Can anyone ID the round and the weapon that would have fired it?

 

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[Dug]

Hi Everyone;

First off I'd like to thank everyone for their patience with my photos and the poor condition of the casing. Everyone of our casings are squashed except the bases and I assume that is from the years of timbering equipment that has been used on the location. I wish I could try to roll out the ctg end but the brass is so fragile that it will crumble if I do.

Tennessee: Thank you for digging further in the book and finding the reference for the two pin strike. I agree with you that if it was used on the longer ctg is was used on the shorter as well.

Oooldman: From one to another , Thanks for the daylight recommendation, I will try it out.

CannonballGuy: Here is another pic. I took the measurement between the base rim and the indentation line as it was the only round surface to use as the ctg is pinch flat at the end. I'm concerned that the casing looks like it is swelled in that area allowing for a false measurement. I won't be seeing my digging partner (lives in another town) until Sat so it will be a few days before I can get all the ctgs together.

 

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[TheCannonballGuy]

Thanks for providing a sideview photo. It shows the Benet-primer indentation. That primer method was invented at the Frankford PA arsenal in approximately 1870, and was used in both military and civilian-use cartridges through the end of the 1800s. But the Benet-primer was almost entirely superceded by true centerfire "cup" primers by 1880. So, your Benet-primed casings most probably date from 1870-ish to 1880, though they could be a bit later.

 

[Dug]

And it was fired by...?

Thanks for providing a sideview photo. It shows the Benet-primer indentation. That primer method was invented at the Frankford PA arsenal in approximately 1870, and was used in both military and civilian-use cartridges through the end of the 1800s. But the Benet-primer was almost entirely superceded by true centerfire "cup" primers by 1880. So, your Benet-primed casings most probably date from 1870-ish to 1880, though they could be a bit later.

So what would have fired a .69 or .58 round in 1870ish leaving a telltale double pin strike on the base? Any suggestions of who to turn to?

 

[NOLA_Ken]

There was a cartridge called .58 Musket, most apparently were Berdan primed, but I found one listed online that is Benet primed. They were made as I understand for Trapdoor conversion Springfields. However I don't know of any that used a double firing pin, and with your cartridge measurements indicating a .69 cal that one wouldn't match up anyway. I'm pretty much stumped on this one now, I don't think I've seen any .69 cal other than paper cartridges.