What Is This? - Metal Detecting Finds - British Broad Arrow Stamp?

Recently ScrapIron was out detecting a private permission site in Missouri with extensive area history dating back to, and even further than, the occupation by displaced Native Americans.  That day he was swinging his Deus 2 metal detector through the dense grass of an expansive field, he got a fairly good audio signal on his detector.  He stuck his spade into the ground, popped out the plug, and discovered a rather boring looking brass piece.

The Deus 2 Metal Detector is a Powerful Relic Detector

When he unearthed this item he had no clue what it was. Just another hunk of brass.  Probably another gun part of some sort. So, he stuffed it into his finds pouch and moved on. He would check it out more later. Once he returned home and began sorting his finds he began cleaning the piece.  With its unique shape and the quality of the brass, he assumed it to be a broken part from a gun with what appeared to possibly be a maker's mark of some sort.  He cleaned it further so he could get a better look.  He could see what appeared to be an arrow with the letter "B" stamped beneath it.  The area where the stamp is located appears to possibly have file marks going across it.

Top side of find.

Bottom side of find.

Having found a number of various other gun parts in the area he was somewhat sure he had found what he believed to be a portion of a lower ram rod pipe off a musket.  The ram rod ran the length of a musket, below the barrel, from the muzzle down towards the action. There were typically three of these pipes along the gunstock to secure the ram rod in place. One near the muzzle, one in the middle, and one at the very bottom near the action, the lower pieces were often embedded into the stock and had a point on the end much like the one he had found.  The ones he had found in the past were often more ornate than this one though.

After much internet sleuthing and Google Image searches, he began to narrow down what the symbol could possibly mean.  Although, not 100% certain, it appears to be a British Broad Arrow symbol.  Although very roughly stamped and a bit worn.

Example of Lower Ram Rod Pipe on Musket

The British broad arrow stamp, also known as the “broad arrow,” is an emblem with a rich historical significance in the United Kingdom. This symbol, which features a simple stylized arrowhead, has been used for centuries to denote government property and ownership. Its meaning and implications span various domains, including military, administrative, and cultural contexts.

Example of a British Broad Arrow mark in stone that looks much like the one on the discovered piece.

The broad arrow symbol's origins can be traced back to the early 17th century when it was first adopted as a mark of ownership by the British government. The symbol is often linked to the practice of marking government property with a distinctive sign to prevent theft and misuse. The broad arrow was used extensively on military equipment, furniture, and various other items to indicate that they were state property.  Although it originated in England it was exported to other parts of the British Empire - including the American colonies.

Examples of how the Brits would tag their property with the Broad Arrow mark.

British Broad Arrow marks can be found in a number of different styles and they could be found on all types of British property including weaponry, munitions, and even rocks and trees.  Some of these marks are factory produced on the items and appear neatly scribed and some of them were crudely added later after the property had been "acquired".  

Examples of gun parts found in the area.

The piece (4th from bottom) is one of many gun parts found in the area.  A good number of the metal items they find are portions of the original piece.  This is typical because the locations were occupied by displaced Native Americans and they re-utilized metal items for various everyday use.

Although ScrapIron is fairly sure of what the item is, it could be something else altogether.  Is the stamp a British Broad Arrow stamp?  Not 100% sure of that either. Let us know if you have any other ideas of what the item may be and the authenticity of the stamp.  

If it is indeed a Broad Arrow stamp, that would mean that this item could date back into the 1700-1800's.  But, how did it get to where it was found in the middle of the United States?  There are a great number of finds that are a very long way from home.  It is not uncommon as people have been trading and interacting with Native American tribes for a long time and things tended to trade hands and move great distances.

Until next time, Good Luck and Happy Hunting!