J.S. Mosby Antiques & Artifacts
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Updated
10/6/2024
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Updated
10/6/2024
Make a choice from any of our catagories below
Gardiner .58 calibre Explosive bullet from Gettysburg
Item #: JSM333
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A devious-minded fellow named Samuel Gardiner received a US patent in November 1863 for an exploding bullet. Made of pewter, darker and harder than lead, and infused with a powder-filled copper contained in the center of the bullet caused it to explode after 1 1/4 seconds designed to coincide upon impact. Likely proud of his invention, the narrow base rim contained "S. Gardiner Jr. Shell Patent Secured" in raised letters. The fuse nozzle in the base is clearly visible.
In this example "S. Gardiner" can be seen with a loupe and several other letters are visible. Most excavated specimens show deterioration of this tiny characteristic. Issued before Chancellorsville battle to the US 11th Corps they are found in positions occupied by that corps at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. The issue of these was discontinued thereafter as inhumane.
This example was found along the Taneytown Road at the "artillery ridge campground," in Gettysburg, PA, on April 23, 1994.
(Sold)
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