ID of Large British Shell Nose Cone

[peregrinvs]

Just acquired this large British shell nose cone. Normally you’d find a separate nose cone and fuze like this on a shrapnel shell, but this has an impact fuze as you would find on an HE shell. However, HE shells don’t usually have a separate nose cone.

So I was wondering if this is from a large chemical / gas shell where only a bursting charge is required to empty out the contents? If so, which calibre?

 

[peregrinvs]

Cleaning is progressing and here are some markings on the fuze.

 

[doctor]

Hi
Probably 6 in shell BL HOW

 

[peregrinvs]

Probably 6 in shell BL HOW

Thanks. Yes current favourite is that it is the head of a MkXVI 6-in HE shell which unusually had a detachable head.

 

[AMMOTECHXT]

A nicely cleaned fuze. Thanks for showing.

 

[peregrinvs]

A nicely cleaned fuze. Thanks for showing.

Cleaning finished. The corrosion concealed a large crack in one side.

 

[peregrinvs]

Forgot to ask: does anyone have any clever tricks for removing the layer of copper off the surface of the brass without damaging it?

 

[AMMOTECHXT]

Forgot to ask: does anyone have any clever tricks for removing the layer of copper off the surface of the brass without damaging it?

I've had the same problem. I used a metal polish to remove the exterior layer of copper. It takes a bit of effort but I'm sure it will come good as yours is in such good (smooth) condition already.

 

[peregrinvs]

I've had the same problem. I used a metal polish to remove the exterior layer of copper. It takes a bit of effort but I'm sure it will come good as yours is in such good (smooth) condition already.

I have since discovered that scrubbing it with progressively finer grades of wire wool worked quite well and it is now mostly brass coloured.