two-inch mortar parachute illumination round

[batonroundcollector]

seen a near-mint one but just thought I'd see if anyone on the forum has one in similar condition for less...

this type:



cheers!

[tigbrand]

How much is it? Looks rough to me! No more than 20 quid unless on Ebay in which case it will be double!

[batonroundcollector]

that's not the actual one - that's pic of type from wikipedia... one I'm looking at is near mint.

[tigbrand]

There are no cheap mint 2" rounds any more,loads of collectors and very little around. My mint ones with caps were only about 15 quid years ago. would be 40 now and the one you are looking at is the most common of all. Even if you have deep pockets your a bit late in the game.

[batonroundcollector]

£40 is ok! PM sent

[reccetrooper]

This was on an auction today. Not mine and I wasn’t bidding.

£60 hammer price, plus auction fees.

[BMG50]

You can still pick up 2inch pretty cheap if you are patient and wait. You will find when you want one now the prices are silly money or there are non about. When they do turn up you can get some very nice ones and bargains, trouble is when stuff does turn up funds are usually dry which is typical in collecting. If you wait the good stuff will come along.

[batonroundcollector]

That's it mate... experience shows that I find everything on my 'wants list' in time (even if I'm told there is no way I will find such-and-such in mint condition...), and usually at a reasonable price. Of course we decide we want an example of something and we want it right now... I always imagine all those collections people are sitting on, unexplored attics, unopened storage units etc etc - so much stuff we forget must exist and which makes silly prices asked and bidding wars on the auction sites seem daft.

Am sure many also forget that not everything a seller has is listed (send 'em an email and strike up a rapport), and that you can always try your luck make an offer rather than pay asking price!

Am sure I actually used to have one of these two-inch rounds as a kid - who knows what happened to it... think I also used to have one with a black 'pebbled' paint finish, no markings on body - anyone know what type this would be?? Anyone else think about/mourn all those items they 'used to have' (likely reluctantly sold when they needed some cash)? Haha.

[batonroundcollector]

Finally got one, 1967 date, and now looking for correct inert ballistite cartridge that goes in the tail:



Assume cart for illuminating round is same as for other types? Image above is from 1966 manual and cart in cutaway for the illuminating type is shown without any text on it...

[ron3350]

Note that the drawing shows 4gr Ballistite Mk2 on the cartridge. This would hardly leave the barrel? so must be a printing error.
Correct cartridges are 47gr Ballistite Mk2 for aluminium tails.
55gr Ballistite Mk2 for mazak tails or 50gr Ballistite Mk1 for steel tails.
Bomb throwers also used an 18gr Ballistite cartridge for smoke rounds or 50 & 55gr loads for long-range throwing.