Metal Detecting

Aprroximately 7mm diameter lead bullet, may have a letter 'P' or 'R' on the base, dug up yesterday. Any ideas on origin , type or date much appreciated. Thanks.

It will be from a pistol or rook rifle, diameter is everything for an ID .32" was a popular small bore calibre and I think it looks nearer 8mm than 7mm but you will need to check with some digital calipers. Probably from early 20th late 19th century.

Thanks, yes it is closer to 8mm diameter. Just wondering if that letter 'P' or 'R' on the base might make the ID more specific.

It could be the manufacturer (Parker were a big gun maker I don't know if they did ammunition as well) or just a code to identify a line or batch for product quality reasons, difficult to tell I'm afraid. Simon our resident expert might be able to add something.

As others have stated, it'll be a .32 calibre, and will very likely have been fired from a pistol (although there are some some rifles that fire pistol ammunition).
The 'P' will be a factory code, which I would be reasonably sure is for the Peters Cartridge Co, in Kings Mills, Ohio, USA. Projectiles made at the Peters Cartridge Co. factory often had a 'P' on the base, but not always. The Peters Cartridge Co. was in operation from the late 1880s and was bought by Remington in 1934 (which was re-named 'Remington-Peters'). I would think this bullet would date to the latter end of the scale, around WW1/1920s.

That's just my guess, but I might be wrong. lol.

Best regards,

Simon

Thanks Simon, that's really useful to know.