Anyone know anything about bullets?

[Walker]

Looks like one of those old-school minie balls. Walker might know a thing or two about them.

I feel special. I know what they are, and I know that when I saw the picture that's what I thought of, but I have no idea whether that's what it is.

I'll see if FableFreak can pop in here for this...

I had that thought, too.

JohnDoe is right, it's a Minié ball.

They were used during the 19th century as a rifle bullet, they saw widespread use during conflicts such as the american civil war. They were a major step forward in bullet design.

Would a Minie ball have been used in England then or just America?

Yeps. A French guy named, predictably enough, Minié invented them. They were used all over the place because they let you reload a rifled musket as fast as an unrifled one. That little hollow place spread out and fit in the rifling when it fired.

They were invented (I don't know, so to Wikipedia) 1850ish. Maybe it's from the Crimean War?

Incidentally, that's really cool. Assuming it isn't some kind of random trash that happens to look like a minie ball. Where'd the whippersnapper find it?

EDIT: And even if it is a coincidence, that's a supremely weird coincidence so much that it's very cool itself.

 

[Angel]

Well initially she said it was over in the forest but turns out it was actually found in our local part of town called Etching Hill which as I'm not a native to this area I know very little about aside from it gets its name from this big old rock sticking up at the top of a hill which dates back to the ice-age and is made of sandstone. People go walking there all the time by the rock and Jessica was wandering around there when she found the whatever-it-is.

Most finds in our area are WW2 era so aside from this thing being incredibly heavy and rock-hard, I wasn't sure what to make of it or how to even go about looking it up. Jessica really wants it to be a real historical thing but I have warned her it's pretty unlikely...be cool if it was what you guys are saying it is though.

 

[Tsuyu]

I think it is safe by now to tell her that it is infact a very, veeery old bullet.

As for the source of this bullet...there is but one course of action.

TO THE LOCAL LIBRARY.

If Stephen King novels has taught me anything it is that local libraries know everything! Especially elderly librarians...

 

[Angel]

I'm currently trying to find somewhere local that could perhaps take a look at it for me and confirm or deny what the fudge it is....but I don't have a clue where to start. There's a military museum in Stafford but I don't know if they're the first people to contact or not?

EDIT: screw it, I've sent an email to the curator of the museum with the same pics I've put here and if I get a reply then great. If not, well I tried. Heading to the National War Memorial Arboretum next Friday anyway which is only a little way from the museum so I might just pop in with it anyway and see if anyone can look at it then. Worth a shot...

 

[Drew2686]

Museums first definitely.

 

[HobbeBrain]

TO THE LOCAL LIBRARY.

Surely the last time someone said this was at least 1994...

 

[Tsuyu]

Awww. Hobbes, now you've hurt Walkers feelings...

 

[HobbeBrain]

D'aww, sorry Walker. Hugz?

 

[Walker]

Surely the last time someone said this was at least 1994...

Lies. Libraries are still sexy.

D'aww, sorry Walker. Hugz?

NO YOU BASTARD I'LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU. That's my meal ticket you're disparaging.

Also, objectively speaking, libraries really are awesome.

 

[HobbeBrain]

Lies. Libraries are still sexy.



NO YOU BASTARD I'LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU. That's my meal ticket you're disparaging.

Also, objectively speaking, libraries really are awesome.

Only because you're in them :3

(Compliment).

 

[Walker]

Ohshit, now I'm going to get raped. HELP.