FREE: Genuine Civil War Lead Minie Ball Musket Rifle Bullet Removed from Rifle with Worm Screw Tool

The listing, Genuine Civil War Lead Minie Ball Musket Rifle Bullet Removed from Rifle with Worm Screw Tool has ended.

The Minié ball, or Minie ball, is a type of muzzle-loading spin-stabilized rifle bullet named after its co-developer, Claude-Étienne Minié, inventor of the Minié rifle. It came to prominence in the Crimean War and American Civil War.

The Minié ball was a conical-cylindrical soft lead bullet, slightly smaller than the intended firearm barrel's bore, with (originally) four exterior grease-filled grooves and a conical hollow in its base. The bullet was designed by Minié with a small iron plug and a lead skirting. Its intended purpose was to expand under the pressure and obturate the barrel and increase muzzle velocity.

http://www.trackofthewolf.com/list/item.aspx/129/1
This link shows modern minie balls have the tip cut off from the casting sprue being removed and are a shiny lead color. Authentic vintage Civil War Minie balls are conical unless a tool has been used to remove the bullet that jammed in the rifle. Then it has a screwed in hole left in the cone top like this one. When lead oxidizes it turns this chalky yellow color and proves a piece is vintage. The oxidized lead cannot be mimicked.

This one looks to be a .54 or .58 caliber from charts with pix I've studied. Likely a Union Minie ball. It has been unfired as it jammed in the rifle. It is not the star type with star inside bottom or a cleaner bullet version. Was discarded on the field of battle by the soldier due to malformation/jamming in rifle. Needed to be removed with worm screw tool.

This one comes from a collection of a relic hunter's estate and he dated it April or APR 4/79 when he found it.

My photos of actual bullet are first 5, then a chart on specs with a diagram. Then composite photos of real minie balls of various calibers and types.

Your chance to own a piece of United States History!