PUBLIC Forums => Public Forums => Firearm Identification => Topic started by: Nelson Welch on February 08, 2019, 01:18:37 PM

Title: 100 year old T. E. Lawrence bullet
Post by: Nelson Welch on February 08, 2019, 01:18:37 PM

I was wondering who did the work for Archaeology Magazine ?.////////////////////////////////While surveying the site of an attack on a Turkish military train in the Arabian Desert in Jordan, which was described by T.E. Lawrence in his autobiography, archaeologists discovered a spent bullet that was likely fired from Lawrence's own Colt 1911 automatic pistol. The weapon  would have been extremely rare in the Middle East during the Arab Revolt of 1916-1918.With Cole's information..(Thanks), it may be that the Archaeologists doing the work are scientists,  and therefore don't really need a firearms examiner.
 

Title: Re: 100 year old T. E. Lawrence bullet
Post by: Axel Manthei on February 08, 2019, 02:18:05 PM

The bullet in the picture looks a bit long for a .45 ACP 230 grs FMJ (typical for these days) bullet to me.... ???
GreetingsAxel

Title: Re: 100 year old T. E. Lawrence bullet
Post by: Cole on February 08, 2019, 02:52:59 PM

This one has an image with a scale:


https://phys.org/news/2016-04-bullet-lawrence-arabia-liar.html (https://phys.org/news/2016-04-bullet-lawrence-arabia-liar.html)

Title: Re: 100 year old T. E. Lawrence bullet
Post by: Bob Shem on February 08, 2019, 06:03:21 PM

I’d hazard a guess that in a century’s time that maybe a random person or two may have done some pistol shooting in the desert.


It’s a bit of a stretch to claim that this is one of his bullets.  The longer a “crime scene” is left uncontrolled the greater the chance that any pertinent evidence would be lost, or other items contaminate the scene.


I’d say it a good guess that maybe another war or three may have swept over the region since 1918.

Title: Re: 100 year old T. E. Lawrence bullet
Post by: Greg Laskowski on February 09, 2019, 10:25:14 AM

Weren't British Colt Pistols .455?

Title: Re: 100 year old T. E. Lawrence bullet
Post by: Greg Laskowski on February 09, 2019, 10:30:08 AM

I believe they fired .455 Eley aka .455 Colt.

Title: Re: 100 year old T. E. Lawrence bullet
Post by: Nelson Welch on February 09, 2019, 11:05:52 AM

Keeping in the 100 to maybe 130 years ago time period.  I think I see at least 6 different manufacturers in the 9 rifles that are shown in the photo.

Title: Re: 100 year old T. E. Lawrence bullet
Post by: Bob Kennington on February 10, 2019, 08:02:41 PM

At the far right is a Springfield "Trapdoor" Carbine—there's only one place he could have got that one!   >:(

Title: Re: 100 year old T. E. Lawrence bullet
Post by: Scott Doyle on February 11, 2019, 10:44:17 AM

Rifling is in pretty bad shape.  I don't see anything to indicate a left or right hand twist.  A 45 AUTO for reference.

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