ID of 40mm Bofors shell

[Dronic69]

Interesting.....

Having a close look - there appears to be 2 distinct styles of chisel markings:

1) "VIII T" - narrower and in a straight line alignment
2) "X I" - these are broader /wider and sloppy - there is a distinct bias where one end of the chisel has been struck down at an angle - this style aligns with the other cross-out chisel marks & the big "P".

IMHO - (2) above was performed by the same bloke and not the original marker....... "X" marks the spot!

 

[peregrinvs]

Having a close look - there appears to be 2 distinct styles of chisel markings:

1) "VIII T" - narrower and in a straight line alignment
2) "X I" - these are broader /wider and sloppy - there is a distinct bias where one end of the chisel has been struck down at an angle - this style aligns with the other cross-out chisel marks & the big "P".

I agree with your observations.

So if the Mk VIII stamp is likely a manufacturing error, is my shell a Mk II? What would converting it from an HE to a practice shell entail?

 

[Darkman]

So if the Mk VIII stamp is likely a manufacturing error, is my shell a Mk II? What would converting it from an HE to a practice shell entail?

Yes, with a 1944 date your shell is almost certainly a Mk IIT.
My understanding is that the difference between Bofors HE and Practice shells was pretty much only the filling and the black colour scheme.

 

[peregrinvs]

Thanks for all the info. I wonder if there are any other Mk VIII marked shells out there in collector land?

It’s currently sitting in a British 1939 dated case as I happen to have one. I shall keep an eye out for a more suitable 1944 dated one.

 

[Dronic69]

Yes, with a 1944 date your shell is almost certainly a Mk IIT.

So I gather these markings were normally "rolled' onto the projectile(?) {I remember seeing a u-tube video on how this was done, not specifically for projectiles, but on pipe bars etc}

If so, then there may be a batch of "Mk VIII T" out there (1944 dated)?

If not, then your projectile is quite unique - like stamp collecting where postage mark "mistakes" are highly sought after! :xd: