Small shells

[Millsman]

Have just bought a nice pair of shell on brass stands.

They are 90mm long, 35mm Diameter and weigh in at 522gm/ 1.2 lb. The interesting part is the hatching in the middle. Are these pre WW1?

John

 

[Chris 42 RQ]

1 WW or earlier

Hi Millsman i think the "hatching" in the middle that refer to is where the driving bands should be!
Very interesting design of projectile and whilst the early stuff is not my forte I think they are very early shells and certainly First WW vintage if not older than that.
Someone here will positively ID them for you.

 

[Millsman]

Yes I know what you mean there, but it almost looks like the 'bands' are a part of the body. I've not put the vernier on it yet to see if the diameter changes. They certainly loo well made.

John

 

[Chris 42 RQ]

Driving bands?

Hi John I may be missing something here but from your post it sounds like they DO have driving bands-is that correct, and the knurling is in between the upper and lower bands-I cannot make out the picture too well to decide????????????????????????????????????

 

[Millsman]

Chris the areas either side of the hatching look a fraction thicker than the rest of the body, so I thought they may be built in bands, but I do concede the hatched area does look as though the band should be there.

John

 

[Gspragge]

They look like

37mm 1 pdr. types with both bands missing or never applied. Any marks and what is the base like ? hollow ~

( first naked ones I have seen ! )

 

[Millsman]

A ha, getting somewhere now.

No marks, but there was a hole in the base now plugged with a copper plug and sanded off by the look of it. No fuze as shown in your photo.

John

 

[Gspragge]

These may be

unfinished examples then, if a copper plug then it's not a cut off fuze which would be brass.

Maybe rejects for some unknown reason or just souveenered. I am not familiar with the pattern of the body under the band on these, this knurling looks American, though this kind of projectile was not made there as far as I know. Maybe somebody else can confirm the knurling pattern as British made?

 

[Millsman]

Am I right in thinking this driving band pattern would be 1890-1910 period?

John

 

[Gspragge]

Pretty much

I don't think much was made after WW1 with a few exceptions 9In this pattern, like Norwegian Blue's with or without parrots-- (per wanted thread)