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Unidentified Cartridge Device

M

Mike Jackson

Member
This unidentified item came to light in the Intelligence Corps Museum (UK). The Curator would like to know what it is - an initiation device, a covert weapon, a cartridge engine starter? Any clues to its identity or purpose would be very welcome. Mike
Unidentified_Green object 1.jpgUnidentified_Green object 2.jpg
 
Some thoughts -
1. A "sub-calibre adapter" of some description
2. A heavily over engineered "alarm mine"
 
Given the (hard to see) possible extractor groove and the turned down section to take the shape of a chamber I am inclined to agree with exat808 that it is a sub-calibre device.

The 1 1/2-inch No 4 Pistol, the one with the bayonet fitting to lock into aircraft would be a good candidate if you had some of those RAF 12 gauge bird scaring cartridges. Just a guess tho.
 
Some more information from the Intelligence Corps Museum which may aid identification:

The object itself measures 5 inches long, is 1 3/8 inches at its widest (what I am calling the breech end) and is milled down to 1 ¼ inches at the muzzle end. There is a 12 bore cartridge case fitted with its percussion cap removed (although was almost certainly done for safety reasons and would not be standard when the item was in use!)
The muzzle end is two inches long and has a ¾ inches bore with ¼ inch barrel walls. The cartridge is removed by prising it up by a small indentation in the ‘breach’ end by the cartridge rim.

Mike
 
If the cartridge case can be removed from this device, it might reveal some info printed on the case wall, Blank, Shot, Slug, etc. As well as the case length.

The headstamp ELEY-KYNOCH 12 was introduced in October 1963 when the ICI part of the previous headstamp was dropped.

The ELEY 12 ELEY 12 headstamp came into use from late 1977 onwards, so that provides an approximate 15 year timespan in relation to the cartridge currently in the device.

Could it be a barrel from some sort of bomb disposal device?
 
The latest from the Curator:

Excellent info thanks. There is no surviving text on the cartridge body and it is a standard length 12 bore one. The time span you identify probably takes this item out of the Lt Col Green collection as he was around before these dates. The milling is very basic and the finish is not what would be expected of a manufactured device. I also suspect that we are missing the key identifying / firing component as what he have is essentially only the barrel without a breach and firing mechanism. Unless we turn up something that fits we may never know.
 
Cases can sometimes reveal info even without remaining text.

Is it a plastic case?
Colour?
Crimped or rolled closure?
If crimped, how many folds?

Of course it is just an assumption that the case and the 'barrel' are of a similar age.
 
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