Federal .58 Caliber 3-Ring Explosive Pewter Bullet
SOLD
Item: Excavated Federal .58 Caliber 3-Ring Explosive Pewter Bullet
Construction: Cast pewter with copper vessel. Raised letters on base: “S. GARDINER JR. SHELL PATENT SECURED”
Condition: Very good, a near perfect example. It has a dark patina and an unusually smooth surface. A light mold seam is visible. Its skirt and nozzle are nicely rounded. Only a portion of the raised letters, found on the bottom of the base rim, are still visible to include several of "GARDINER" and "PATENT". See the additional images of this bullet's base to see these letters. The bullet has no dings, dents, cracks, breaks, bends, or repairs.
Recovered: September 19, 1981 in the area of Chancellorsville, VA (a more detailed description will be provided to the purchaser)
Approximate size: .572 x 1.11 inches. Wt. 445.3 grains.
Reference: M&M: #532 / Thomas' RBTR Part One, #252
Comments: This explosive bullet was acquired directly from the Virginia digger who maintained a journal of his days of detecting and subsequent relic recoveries for nearly a decade. His journal included this find in an entry made in September 20, 1981, a scan of which is included in the additional images. His entry includes not only a list of items he found, but also those of his digging buddy, as well as the time of day in military time. Those were the days, indeed. Also included in the additional images is a scanned image of the digger (on left), with his hunting buddies and their detectors.
Samuel Gardiner, Jr. received patent #40,468 on November 23, 1863 for his exploding bullet or “musket shell.” This bullet has several distinctive characteristics. It has a dark color because it was cast of pewter which was harder than lead and would fragment. A fuse nozzle is visible in the cavity which leads to a powder-filled copper vessel in the center of the bullet. These bullets were simply intended to cause more damage to their target.
Examples of this bullet and additional information, can be found in "Civil War Projectiles II Small Arms & Field Artillery with Supplement" by W. Reid McKee and M. E. Mason, Jr. on page 63, item # 532 and also in "Round Ball to Rimfire, Part One" by Dean S. Thomas, on page 191, item # 252. Scans of these pages are included in the additional images.
This bullet is a near perfect example and will be an excellent addition to any Civil War bullet or general relic collection.
- Product Code:
- PC8822
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