French ww1 shell

[Mannlicher]

Hello everyone.
I've recently purchased this shell, it was bent outwards at the mouth when i got it (guess it was an early stage of "trench art"). Could anyone tell me the original caliber of this shell (now it's around 55mm)? Overall length is 175mm and the bottom diameter is 63mm. :neutral:



Thank you in advance,
M

 

[Alpini]

I think it is a 53 x 176,5R Gruson case. P.A.H. should be a Romanian Headstamp Pirotechnia Armatei H....?

 

[Hoeksel]

The Romanian case should have a 33 mm neck.

 

[Mannlicher]

Thanks guys. I saw a similar casing (trench art) owned by zephyr4 here http://www.bocn.co.uk/vbforum/threads/79880-strange and one sold (also trench art) here http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ww1-french-navy-shell-trench-art-orient-constinople. Unfortunately, the last one hasn't got the dimensions in the description...

Guess Alpini is right - http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ww1-german-53mm-5-3cm-grusonsch-shell-case-trench, another ruined case - but it states "WW1 German 53mm Gruson SHELL Case trench art 53 x 177 R". And yes, could be Romanian, i also encountered the PAH markings on 6,5mm casings. Seems Romania used the Grusons as fortification guns in ww1. http://www.worldwar2.ro/forum/index.php?showtopic=3912

Another puzzle solved.

 

[Mannlicher]

More info - http://www.bulgarianartillery.it/Bulgarian Artillery 1/Gruson 53mm_Romania.htm