Bullet Necklace – Experiment in Wire Wrapping
I have been wanting to make a necklace out of bullets and/or bullet casings for a long time. However, I don’t hunt or shoot and neither does anyone I know, so it has been rather difficult to even get the materials. Recently, I went to a really fun party at a farm in Lovettsville, VA. I got to play with farm animals, eat yummy food, and shoot a gun.
Anyway, I managed to get a bunch of casings that way. Previously I had thought about using actual bullets, but that seemed unsafe (and maybe too controversial?). The casings posed their own problems. I tried drilling holes in them with a dremel tool, but their rounded smooth surface made it nearly impossible to do this quickly and without scratching the casings when the dremel slipped. My solution was to wrap each one with masking tape/painter’s tape to provide resistance. However, at that point I was tired of hearing the drill and decided not to drill holes in them since attaching them together wouldn’t look very nice (in my opinion) and I didn’t have enough to make a truly experimental necklace.
Ultimately, I decided to try out my skills at wire wrapping. I don’t typically do wire wrapping but I’ve been learning the basics. I ended up wire wrapping all the bullets and forming a necklace and a pair of earrings. I wore the set to the Gem and Jewelry show in Dulles and I got a lot of positive comments/interest.
My experimentation has been delayed by lack of supplies. I even went to the NRA to ask them for their casings from their shooting range, but apparently they recycle them.
What you need to do is search for shooting ranges in your town or city. They often save brass, and in many cases, just leave it lying around. Also, drive out in the country and look for places where people shoot, illegal dump sites, roadsides with a backstop, or ask friends who shoot where they go.
You can order reloading supplies for bullets, thats what my brother does. I’m not sure how much they charge for the casings anymore, but he made me an awesome Ar-15 bullet necklace that way. He managed to drill a hole in it, and slipped some leather cord through it. I’m currently selling one just like it, except the cord isn’t real leather, on http://www.bananza.com. I’d offer to sell you our used casings, we shoot all the time, but I have no idea how much shipping would cost.