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Unknown (to me). Can you help?

B

Benjum

Member
Hello all.

Here is something else that was left to me when a friend died. I hadn't seen this before he passed away and was surprised to be taking home when I collected two 4.5" spent Vickers shells and some other bits and bobs.

I have tried to identify this many times through online searches, thinking it must be easy to find out what it is...... but no. It looks to be a cast iron spitzer shaped projectile and old by appearance, inert as there is no fuse in the nose and is quite heavy. I have measured the base and is about 4.5" in diameter. It has a coarse screw thread in the base and what looks like a stainless steel hook affair set into the casting inside. There is a bullet shaped casting mark/escutcheon containing three letters - CMV or OMV perhaps?

I cleaned it up as I wanted to preserve it as best as I can and also to see if there were any other marks to help with it's identity. I could not see any other information in the cast iron. I have given a bit of temporary paint to stop it rusting again but wondered what colour should it be.......

I would love to know more about it so have turned this forum for kind assistance. I am prepared for anything..... Even that it screws to the top of a fence post lol.

Thanks in advance,
Benjum.
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Thank you Dreamk.

Stunned, i would not have ever thought that was used for that!

I could see that it wasn't a modern design of munition but assumed it had a military application. This identification has left me feeling happy that I now know what it is, yet sad now knowing that it was used to kill whales...... in a really gruesome manner. Very much a mixed emotion ID. Nevertheless, I am greatly appreciative of your help. I now wonder if this came back from the Falkland islands due to the whaling history there...... Quite possible when considering my friend's military history.

Many thanks again!
 
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