40mm M25 Bofors Case

[37patt]

Recently acquired a 40mm L60 case with the head stamp -

40mm M25 Lot 0378-25 [US ordnance symbol] FA 1942

Fuse is marked -

KOP 19-22415-38 M23A2 1942

The symbol in the lot number is the crossed barrels in a circle.

Pretty standard I think for an early war US casing. What I'm curious about are the two parallel flats milled on the outside edge of the cartridge rim. None of my other casings have this feature and I'm wondering what the purpose is for them.

 

[HAZORD]

U.S.Army. Post a photo.

 

[37patt]

Thanks Hazord, I've had such a hard time posting pictures to any site that I gave up long ago - sorry.

I'm pretty much good to go with the markings on the cartridge, it's the two flats cut onto the side of the rim that I'm curious about. All my other cases are round and I can see no real purpose to mill the edges flat unless they wanted the cartridge cases to sit closer to each other.

 

[Darkman]

The flats are not original or for a military purpose. It’s been mutilated by someone for an unknown reason. A photo really would help.

 

[37patt]

Thanks Darkman, it's kind of what I thought as well.
The cuts have been really well done and have tarnished the same amount as the rest of the case so they don't look all that bad - anyway the case was free so will stay in the collection.

 

[Nabob]

is there a hole in the side of the case in some reasonable angle to the flats?

 

[37patt]

There are no holes or any other kind of modification to the casing. Are you thinking of a pressure test?

I think that Darkman has it right, unless we come up with another example of a case cut the same way. As I said originally, none of my other 5 casings have the flats and I have yet to see a picture of the modification on the net.

Just another of life's little mysteries I guess.

Thanks All

 

[Nabob]

Yes, I was thinking of a pressure test.
Time will tell.......or not
Have i nice day,
Bob