4.7" Star Shell 1943 Mk3

[Gspragge]

I just brought this home, not a type I have run across before.
I'm presuming it would use either the No 198 or the No 400 Mkll N fuzes.
There is a hole in the side of it and I suspect something had been attached
for some unknown reason. Though what ever it was that use likely saved this.

 

[tigbrand]

Cracking shell Gordon and not common.
Well worth doing a bit of resto on.

 

[Gspragge]

I've filled down the ridges on the edges of the mystery hole, cleaned out the inside and lightly steel wooled the outside just to
looen some exposed surface rust and other marks. Then I waxed it.
Now to obtain the No 400 fuze and a 4.7 casing, the latter I haven't come across here yet.
By chance are any of the 4.7 Navel guns bag charged ? with no casing -
So far I've only seen 12Pr & 4" casings with notches and taking that screw in primer over here.
It was an auction win and instead of a fortune in shipping I went on a trip and back the same day to nowhere and picked it up.
Left at 5am in a blizzard (whick cleared up and was good driving thereafter) and home at 3pm with one stop and visit on the way back.
I hope I never have to do this again !

 

[jvollenberg]

Is that hole a filler hole? Looks a lot like the smoke/chem filling hole. Maybe a converted round?

Joe

 

[Gspragge]

The hole is odd, it is raised slightly on the inside and outside-not good for shooting, it doesn't look proffessional, but rather forced.
I think it was for a non military purpose for ever unknown. (it's not threaded)
However I now have it fuzed, No 400 ll N

 

[jvollenberg]

might be an interting hole then.

Joe

 

[Gspragge]

Yes if the base was present, but gone that is as big a hole as one could wish for . I don't
think we will ever know, but at least it doesn't ruin it.

 

[starshell]

I think the journey covered by Gspragge could be the start of a good subject/ thread in itself on here....
How far have members travelled to collect a new addition?
In my case, an 8 hour journey, and back, to collect a nice 9.2" a couple of years ago, straight after a night shift....
Lovely shell Gspragge, and worth the journey