Mystery bullet

yellowk9 · Dec 2, 2013

I wasn't sure whether to put this here or in the ID section, but here goes. I remember finding an old bullet in a creek bed at deer camp when I was a teen (25 years ago). Since I've gotten into detecting I often wondered what it was and how old it might be. The problem was I had no clue where it was. This Thanksgiving my Mom forced me to take home some old boxes of my stuff she'd beeb storing for me. In a box mixed in with my class ring and other items was this bullet. It's been shot and is somewhat deformed, so i took two diameter measurments (inches). The weight is in grains. Any guesses on what it is? Modern, 1800's, caliber/gun? Thanks!

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americanzero · Dec 2, 2013

looks like a .52 cal enfield. used by the confederates during civil war!

yellowk9 · Dec 2, 2013

My bullet has a completely flat base. Based on looking at some other pictures, the .52 Enfield has a concave base. I may just have a modern .50 cal muzzleloader bullet. It does have a white patina, but that just means it's "old". I thought I might just throw it out there to see if it might be something older. Any other guesses? :lol:

yellowk9 · Dec 2, 2013

Here's some additional pics compared to a 3-ringer.

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Trickworm · Dec 2, 2013

Looks like it could be a federal 44 star revolver bullethttp://www.americancivilwarrelics.com/Y289.htm or a Picket Bullet for the a Country Rifle http://www.americancivilwarrelics.com/Y234.htm.

yellowk9 · Dec 2, 2013

I saw the .36 star revolver bullet and it's very similar. I didn't know they came in .44. I'll check out the Picket Bullet. Thanks.

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duggap · Dec 3, 2013

duggap · Dec 3, 2013

americanzero said:
looks like a .52 cal enfield. used by the confederates during civil war!

I was gonna write that there were no .52 cal enfields, but to be sure I looked in the book, and guess what, there was one .52 cal enfield. However it did have a conical shaped base on it. The enfields were not strictly confederate. Both sides used them. Glad you got me to look that up. I learned something. Regards.

americanzero · Dec 3, 2013

duggap said:
I was gonna write that there were no .52 cal enfields, but to be sure I looked in the book, and guess what, there was one .52 cal enfield. However it did have a conical shaped base on it. The enfields were not strictly confederate. Both sides used them. Glad you got me to look that up. I learned something. Regards.

yeah I didnt notice that the base was flat. With that, I would think it is either a picket bullet, or something post war. really hard to tell.

Digger70pa · Dec 3, 2013

Looks kind of like a sharps carbine.

Pacivilwarluke · Dec 3, 2013

Could be a Starr or a sharps. Hard to tell because if you found it in a creek, it could've been worn down over time..

umrgolf · Dec 3, 2013

Im thinking its a Starr carbine bullet. Ive dug a few and they look identical.

yellowk9 · Dec 3, 2013

If a guy was going to ask Santa for a civil war bullet guidebook what would be a good one. I'm interested in the best one and/or the best value. Thanks.

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yellowk9 · Dec 3, 2013

I agree the .54 cal. Starr carbine most closely matches. Mine was not found at a known battle site, but it is near troop movements. A good number of these were recovered from the battle at Jenkin's Ferry (the county adjacent to my find site). Cool!!

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yellowk9 · Dec 3, 2013

yellowk9 said:
I agree the .54 cal. Starr carbine most closely matches. Mine was not found at a known battle site, but it is near troop movements. A good number of these were recovered from the battle at Jenkin's Ferry (the county adjacent to my find site). Cool!!

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Pacivilwarluke · Dec 3, 2013

yellowk9 said:
I agree the .54 cal. Starr carbine most closely matches. Mine was not found at a known battle site, but it is near troop movements. A good number of these were recovered from the battle at Jenkin's Ferry (the county adjacent to my find site). Cool!!

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Glad you could figure it out! Awesome find!

yellowk9 · Dec 3, 2013

Yep! The more pictures I look at and the more I read about the "poor man's Sharp's" (.54 Starr) the more convinced I am this may be what I have. It looks the same and apparently many of these rifles were used in the western theater (including Union cavalry units from Arkansas). When I get a good reference book with dimensions/weights that will be the deciding factor. I have such difficulty convincing myself about the identity of these type of finds. I don't won't to be one of those people that jumps to conclusions about the identity or rarity of a find.

turtlefoot · Dec 3, 2013

I don't know Civil War era bullets, but is there a chance that it is a Cosmopolitan bullet? Several have been found in Arkansas.

Doug

yellowk9 · Dec 3, 2013

Could be. Looks similar. Another lead to follow :-)

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umrgolf · Dec 4, 2013

yellowk9 said:
I agree the .54 cal. Starr carbine most closely matches. Mine was not found at a known battle site, but it is near troop movements. A good number of these were recovered from the battle at Jenkin's Ferry (the county adjacent to my find site). Cool!!

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Its a little tough to see in the photo, but does it look like a ring at the bottom, or no ring? I like turtlefoot's idea too.

I'd go back and hit that spot pretty hard. I bet there are more nearby

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