If you are just visiting and found the information you were looking for please contribute to the running costs by making a donation.	Forums : : Register : : Log In : : Log Out : : Help : : Calendar : : Search
	My Setup : : Member List : : Contact Admin : : Today's Posts

All Forums >> [Bottle Forums] >> Unexpected Discoveries >> Live WWII howitzer shells

Page: [1]

Login Message << Older Topic   Newer Topic >>

Live WWII howitzer shells - 5/21/2004 9:02:40 PM    AvoidingWork   Posts: 33 Joined: 5/21/2004 From: Ottawa Canada Status: offline Hi all. How about this for an interesting non-bottle find: two un-fired WWII howitzer type shells, a marble gravestone from 1862, a spanish colonial silver coin from 1815, and a rose gold watch case. No human bones yet..........ml Post #: 1

RE: Live WWII howitzer shells - 5/22/2004 4:10:47 AM    IRISH   Posts: 1238 Joined: 11/23/2002 From: cockatoo Australia Status: offline The shells would add a bit of interest to your day , what size shells where they ? I've dug up WW2 20mm shells before, I just put them in a deeper hole and left them there, they where on an old air gunnery range so I sort of expected to find something of the sort. (in reply to AvoidingWork) Post #: 2

RE: Live WWII howitzer shells - 5/23/2004 7:40:42 PM    AvoidingWork   Posts: 33 Joined: 5/21/2004 From: Ottawa Canada Status: offline As i remember, (it was a few years now) they were about a foot tall, iron body with brass, or was it copper, rings round the base. When i called the canadian war museum they asked if these rings were scored, to which i replied negative. They said that it indicated they were not fired and to get them out of my sink asap!! That's when the fun began. One of them had a brass calibrated ring on top and was leaking a bit of bluish material. The chilren were disappointed when the military came. They were expecting an armed platoon to come marching up the road,- but all they got was a guy in office garb and specs. (in reply to AvoidingWork) Post #: 3

RE: Live WWII howitzer shells - 5/25/2004 11:55:26 AM    olddump   Posts: 130 Joined: 2/2/2004 Status: offline Sounds like anti-aircraft shells, the calibrated rings are for altitude detination [the explotions you see in the old bomber movies around the formations of planes] ack-ack, and flack all that good stuff Tom, Olddump (in reply to AvoidingWork) Post #: 4

RE: Live WWII howitzer shells - 5/25/2004 10:44:03 PM    AvoidingWork   Posts: 33 Joined: 5/21/2004 From: Ottawa Canada Status: offline Thanks for the info. Wish i could have kept one as a cool souvenir. (providing it was safe!) (in reply to AvoidingWork) Post #: 5

RE: Live WWII howitzer shells - 5/26/2004 4:32:48 AM    IRISH   Posts: 1238 Joined: 11/23/2002 From: cockatoo Australia Status: offline Could have been the driving ring too, most shells have a brass or copper ring for the rifling to "bite" without ruining the barrel (steel on steel will wear it out in a few shot's), the shells I sometimes find in the spot mentioned above are often so rusted (salty ground) the driving ring is the only way to tell they are a shell. (in reply to AvoidingWork) Post #: 6

RE: Live WWII howitzer shells - 5/28/2004 11:46:33 AM    AvoidingWork   Posts: 33 Joined: 5/21/2004 From: Ottawa Canada Status: offline That sounds like what the war museum meant when they asked if the 'firing rings' were scored or not. When i said no, they said to assume they had not been fired. I contacted a local bottle group "Bytown Bottle Seekers" to see if anyone would be interested in helping me dig my site before the bulldozer comes. Hopefully someone will be interested. Thanks for all the posts---mal (in reply to AvoidingWork) Post #: 7

All Forums >> [Bottle Forums] >> Unexpected Discoveries >> Live WWII howitzer shells

Page: [1]

New Messages No New Messages Hot Topic w/ New Messages Hot Topic w/o New Messages Locked w/ New Messages Locked w/o New Messages

Post New Thread  Reply to Message  Post New Poll  Submit Vote  Delete My Own Post  Delete My Own Thread  Rate Posts