This is a .58 caliber Gardiner explosive bullet. Samuel Gardiner received patent #40,468 on November 23, 1863 for his exploding bullet or “musket shell.”  This bullet has several distinctive characteristics.  It has a dark color because it was cast of pewter which was harder than lead and would fragment.  On good specimens, “S. Gardiner Jr. Shell Patent Secured” can be found in raised letters around the base.  A fuse nozzle is visible in the cavity.  This nozzle leads to a powder-filled copper vessel in the center of the bullet.

This was recovered along Rock Creek and Harrisburg Road, northeast of Gettysburg. This area was occupied by Federal troops of the 11^th Corps on July 1, 1863.  Several regiments in the 11^th Corps were issued these explosive bullets prior to the Battle of Chancellorsville and nearly all recoveries of these rare bullets come from their positions at Chancellorsville or Gettysburg.

This particular relic came from the collection of a local Gettysburg relic hunter.  [JET]

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