This is a .58 caliber Gardiner explosive bullet for rifle muskets.

Samuel Gardiner received patent #40,468 on November 23, 1863 for his exploding bullet or “musket shell.”  This type of bullet has several distinctive characteristics.  It usually exhibits a dark color because it was cast of pewter which was harder than lead and would fragment.  On very good specimens, “S. Gardiner Jr. Shell Patent Secured” can be found in raised letters around the base.  Some of the lettering is still visible on this specimen. A fuse nozzle is found in the cavity.  This nozzle leads to a powder-filled copper vessel in the center of the bullet.

This is a very nice dropped specimen with some raised lettering still visible.

Nearly all recoveries of these rare bullets come from the Chancellorsville or Gettysburg campaigns. This one was recovered with others along Rock Creek in Gettysburg in an area down the Taneytown Road where the 3^rd Maine was known to have camped.   [jet] [ph:L]

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