Well, I appreciate everyone's comments.  I apologize for not providing some clarification before now, but I've been traveling today.
 
I hate misfires!  I've never had much trouble with .22s, but I have an old J.C. Higgins bolt action shot gun that has a pretty weak firing pin spring.  It just won't make some brands of shells go bang!
 
The punctures are near the head of the case.  Especially on the longs, I don't think they would help a person get the slug out.  Pliers would definitely be quicker and safer, although I'm not discounting the idea of recycling misfires.  Consider this may have been going on 100 years ago.  I don't think the slugs were crimped into the case until later, although I don't have my reference in front of me.  It might have been easier to get them out by hand before then.
 
These punctures definitely go from the outside in, so they aren't ruptured cases and they weren't punctured being pushed out of a sticky cylinder.  The holes are always longitudinal, nearer the head and approximately the same size.  They aren't random.  All have a clear firing pin strike.  I can't imagine that an extractor would cause this kind of breach in the case wall.
 
I can see someone sitting on this porch and finding a convenient gap in the boards to hold the things still while they punched the holes.  I'm leaning toward pure, old-fashioned boredom!
 
So how many do you think I need to make those wind chime?!  Valentine's Day is Saturday you know!
 
Paul G. Avery, RPA
Senior Archaeologist
 
MACTEC Engineering and Consulting
9725 Cogdill Road
Knoxville, TN  37932
Direct: (865) 218-1069
Main: (865) 588-8544, Ext. 1169
Fax: (865) 588-8026

________________________________

From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY on behalf of Mark Branstner
Sent: Wed 2/11/2009 8:51 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Cartridge Case Question



Bob,

I acknowledge defeat ... at least to your discussion of swaging vs.
erosion, although the erosion argument appear to be a persistent one.

Mark
--

Mark C. Branstner, RPA
Historic Archaeologist

Illinois Transportation
Archaeological Research Program
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
209 Nuclear Physics Lab, MC-571
23 East Stadium Drive
Champaign, IL 61820

Phone: 217.244.0892
Fax: 217.244.7458
Cell: 517.927.4556
[log in to unmask]


"I hope there's pudding" - Luna Lovegood (HP5)

"If you only have a hammer, every problem looks like a nail"- Anonymous