French 25mm Drill ???

[doppz92]

Hello,
This case is 169mm long and the rim is 69 mm diameter and the neck is 42 before the crimp. The primer vent isn't finished and there's no hole. I first thought this could be a cut down case for the French 25mm anti-tank gun, but on a closer inspection it really doesn't look cut down. And I have 2 of them absolutely identical.
Could this be the metal part of a drill shell partly made of wood? I have a 25mm cartridge with a wooden projectile and filled with sand but that's the AA version of the French 25mm, and the case looks like an old case reused to do a drill cartridge.
Has anyone come across such a case? It's definately French, manufactured in 1940 during the second quarter of the year if I am not mistaken, but any info on that is welcome too.

 

[Hoeksel]

I do know of factory cut down blanks for the 25 mm AT but those cases are 152 mm long. To me these cases remind me of unfinished cases because of the primer pocket (no holes). They are indeed French, dated 1940, and for the 25 mm Hotchkiss M1934 AT gun.

 

[MINENAZ16]

Hello,

Example of blank cartridge (model 34 cut).

Regards

 

[doppz92]

Hello MinenAZ16,

Thanks for the drawing and photo (very nice grouping with some rarer types), it could be an unfinished blank cartridge, (however I can't fathom the crimp) but what is the length meant to be??

Cheers

 

[Hoeksel]

193mm is the length

 

[doppz92]

Hello Hoeksel,

Thank you, the ammunition specs are 25X194R, that I know, but I was asking for the length of the cut down blanks. Any idea?

 

[Hoeksel]

I already mentioned the length ;-). 152 mm.

 

[doppz92]

Yes, somehow I managed to miss it... Need to go to Specsavers...

Thanks!