Bottle found while squirrel hunting

[snake oil]

Last Saturday afternoon I was walking through the woods squirrel hunting and saw the neck of a bottle sticking out of the ground . The shape of the neck and lip told me it was old , I couldn't believe my luck ! I was near a marsh and the ground was soft , so I gently coaxed it out of the ground . What came out was a plain amber , strap sided flask , 7-5/8" inches high , 3-3/4" wide at the shoulders , 3-1/4 wide at the base with a rounded applied lip with one ring under it . The base has a mould seam running diagonally across it with a circular depression , 1-5/16" in diameter (not a pontil) in the center of the base , with a very lightly embossed (very hard to see) "8" in it's center . The bottle is in excellent condition , no major scratches , no cracks , chips , or dings , and the color is a beautiful deep amber . I know these flasks are not rare , but I like it and I have a few other flasks in my collection . All in all , it was a good day , it was also a good day for the huge squirrel (it must have been on steroids) I saw about 20 minutes later , it eluded the #5 shot from my 20 Ga. [] (I should have taken the 12 Ga. with me instead) . I would guess the bottle was made sometime around 1880 , and if I saw it for sale , I would buy it because of its condition and color , but I don't think I would pay much more than $10 for it . This was the first time I've ever found an old bottle while I was hunting .

 

[oldshoe4u]

Nice story! I like to use a 22 and pretend I'm a sniper. Lets see a pic of that bottle?

 

[snake oil]

Thanks , Old Shoe , I prefer using a .22 also , pistol and rifle . Unfortunetly I was hunting on a small , state managed hunting area , where the only weapons allowed are bows and shotguns . I would have rather had my Ruger 10/22 or my Single Six , for sure . If I can get ahold of a digital camera , and can figure out how to post a pic , I will post a pic of the bottle , and some other bottles too . The flask is your average pint size strap sided amber flask , but it sure is pretty . Happy hunting , Old Shoe !

 

[Maine Digger]

I used to hunt squirrel many years ago as a lad in NY,[] Your story brought back fond memories, I once shot a nice gray with a 20ga Mosberg with variable choke; I inadvertainly had the choke completely closed, all that was left of the critter was a tuft of tail!![&:] I think a shotgun is a little too much fire power, but like you said, many areas don't allow rifles. Here in Maine, during the 'off season' for bottle digging, I use my privy probe as a spear when hunting squirrels, it gives them a fighting chance![8D]

 

[DOLANBADGER]

Hello Snake oil .
It seems to me, a great deal of bottle collector's are also into hunting.
I just found this great site, hope to send in some pictures soon. I've
been collecting bottles about 6 years mostly gingers,hunting game
around 25.Always wondered , how's squirrel taste , and would a 300
weatherby knock em down

 

[grdigger35]

Bullmoose, I believe your 300 might knock a squirrel down (see Maine Digger; choke closed). But you can see that the "real" sportsman uses a privy probe. You're hard to top Norm.

 

[Maine Digger]

Hey Dale, go easy! Check out your 'store' on iOffer! That's me who bought that greeen coffee, now if you could find another Newburg NY bottle I might just share my secrets of privy probe hunting.[]

 

[IRISH]

G'day and welcome DOLANBADGER, it's good to see I'm not the only one here who thinks there is no such thing as overkill [] , a mate of mine says he is going to use his .300 Win mag on Foxes when he picks it up [8D] .

 

[oldshoe4u]

Yeah the 300 weatherby is good enough to take out a squirrell. Man Norm I'd hate to be snooping for an old cellar hole on your property[]! Using the probe for a spear is some skill! And Dolobanger Squirrell is pretty good eating, except they kinda look like rats when theres no skin and fur left on em[:'(]. Usually cut em into quarters and bake them. Now I've got a city slicker wife who wont let me in the house with anything recently deceased [X(] unless it has a supermarket logo and price tag on it..[&o]
And snake oil if you get a camera check this page of the forum for help posting and uploading https://www.antique-bottles.net/forum/forumid_28/tmode_1/smode_1/p_1/tt.htm

Have a good one!

 

[snake oil]

It's good to hear from you all . If I have to use a shotgun , I prefer a 12Ga. with a full choke , aim for the head and most of the shot will stay in the front quarter of the squirrel . I keep the range 10-30 yards . I was using my daughters 20 Ga. mod. , because I didn't have any #6 shells for my 12 Ga. . I only use a shot gun for squirrels when I have to , I very much prefer a .22 . About 4 years ago I shot a large red squirrel with my old Hi Standard .22 pistol , when I skinned it , I found 5 #6 shots in its shoulder , under the skin but not in the meat . My .22 had finished what someone else's shotgun had started , some time in the past . Thanks for the link oldshoe , I am still looking for a camera . I will post some pics of some of my other bottles , too . I have many different kinds of bottles but my primary intrest is in medicine and cure/remedy bottles . I get a kick out of some of the crazy names they came up with for some of that stuff . Happy hunting to you all , be it bottles or game ! [8D]