Why do you think this iitem came to be?

[cprljohnivey]

Interesting item I found on Ebay while browsing. Thought it would make a fun discussion about why this item came to be. Souvenir of soldiers killed? Spare Parts? Boredom? What are your thoughts?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Civil-War-Relic-Dug-Barrell-Bands-From-Fredricksburg-VA-/320922200861?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ab8742b1d

[Cumpston1862]

Re: Why do you think this iitem came to be?

Being that it was found in a campsite I would say someone was bored.

They look like bayonet rings rather than musket bands...hard to tell.

[cprljohnivey]

Re: Why do you think this iitem came to be?

I am pretty sure they are musket bands... they have that hump where the wood ends and the barrel begins.

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Why do you think this iitem came to be?

Hallo!

On my monitor they appear as P1853 3rd Model Enfield barrel bands...

If only artifacts could talk louder than they do.

I might be wrong, but I think may be they belonged to a defarbing service that was replacing the barrel bands on the Confederates' incorrect 4th Model Enfields to be more authentic.

:) :)

Curt

[Pumpkinslinger]

Re: Why do you think this iitem came to be?

You're too funny Curt! Sehr Gut!!!!

[Michael Semann]

Re: Why do you think this iitem came to be?

i might be wrong, but i think may be they belonged to a defarbing service that was replacing the barrel bands on the confederates' incorrect 4th model enfields to be more authentic.
Curt

_________

;):p

[Secesh]

Re: Why do you think this iitem came to be?

My hunch would be that the soldier made a crude "chain" for suspending a cooking utensil over the fire...

[Matthew Semple]

Re: Why do you think this iitem came to be?

Tom,

That is exactly what I was thinking after I saw this thread this morning.

Matt

[Jimmayo]

Re: Why do you think this iitem came to be?

Same guy...different place. He is still stripping enfields.

[J. Donaldson]

Re: Why do you think this iitem came to be?

How were spare parts for weapons sorted and delivered? We have evidence pictured of Enfield parts from different locations showing the three barrel bands, as well as the front and rear sling swivels, linked together, perhaps to keep parts organized. Is there any chance that these might be drops from an armorer or weapons repair station? I know in some instances damaged were turned in and sent to a depot for repairs, but could these be evidence of field repairs, or those trained to do such?

Just throwing something against the barn to see if it'll stick.

[Jimmayo]

Re: Why do you think this iitem came to be?

Is there any chance that these might be drops from an armorer or weapons repair station? I know in some instances damaged were turned in and sent to a depot for repairs, but could these be evidence of field repairs, or those trained to do such?

Just throwing something against the barn to see if it'll stick.

Once there was a land of rifle pits which existed for 130+ years in their original state. The place was called McIlwaine Hill and was a short distance from Pamplin Park. You can find it now by looking for the steel mill which sits where the hill was. This line of rifle pits was first occupied by the Confederates, taken by the Union and re-captured in part by the CS sharpshooters of McGowans Brigade and ran through the woods for a good distance. These pits were unique in the fact that they were occupied by both sides and the pits redug to suit whoever was in possession of them. Nice story but to the point. Some of these pits were quite large. I was one of the first to hunt them with what was then a state of the art metal detector that had great depth. In many of these pits were found enough gun parts to make several complete locks. It was not unusual to find tumblers, main springs, lock plates, trigger guards, screws, gun tools etc. Never found a complete barrel but did find several damaged pieces. That is where the sling swivels came from. Since generally the military of both sides did not want the average soldier fixing guns I assume these guys were taking guns apart for something to do while getting shot at. There should have been enough spare guns laying around to keep them occupied.