Sedalia Dave Posted April 11, 2022 Share Posted April 11, 2022 What are these? About 3.5 in diameter and about 10 inches tall They were found in an old barn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rip Snorter Posted April 11, 2022 Share Posted April 11, 2022 Don't know what they are, but no way I'd be fooling around with these. I'd report them to the local PD. Shells from as far back as the Civil War have exploded on occasion. Better safe than sorry! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trailrider #896 Posted April 11, 2022 Share Posted April 11, 2022 Yes, and I would NOT go drilling into them to see if there is any powder inside! Several years ago, while visiting Charleston, SC, there was an explosion in Charleston harbor. No damage was done, but the explosion was somewhat in line between the shore and Ft. Sumpter. I don't know if any determination was ever made, but it wouldn't surprise me if it was caused by a "short" round (either from the fort or from the shore) that fell into the water and lay there for a century until corrosion allowed a fuse to go off! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utah Bob #35998 Posted April 11, 2022 Share Posted April 11, 2022 3.5” would be an 88mm. Rifling indicates it has been fired. Battlefield pick up. Could be a solid shot or it could be base fused. Some German 88s were base fused. Don’t fiddle with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Gun Barney, SASS #2428 Posted April 11, 2022 Share Posted April 11, 2022 DONT DO THIS! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sedalia Dave Posted April 11, 2022 Author Share Posted April 11, 2022 4 hours ago, Utah Bob #35998 said: 3.5” would be an 88mm. Rifling indicates it has been fired. Battlefield pick up. Could be a solid shot or it could be base fused. Some German 88s were base fused. Don’t fiddle with it. Base has a hole in it. I figured they were potentially live and conveyed as much to the owner. He was unaware that they could be live and said he would contact someone to properly dispose of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utah Bob #35998 Posted April 11, 2022 Share Posted April 11, 2022 55 minutes ago, Sedalia Dave said: Base has a hole in it. I figured they were potentially live and conveyed as much to the owner. He was unaware that they could be live and said he would contact someone to properly dispose of them. Better a hole than a fuse! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trailrider #896 Posted April 12, 2022 Share Posted April 12, 2022 6 hours ago, Crazy Gun Barney, SASS #2428 said: DONT DO THIS! Bugs should have at least been wearing earplugs! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheyenne Ranger, 48747L Posted April 12, 2022 Share Posted April 12, 2022 52 minutes ago, Trailrider #896 said: Bugs should have at least been wearing earplugs! and safety glasses Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bad Bascomb, SASS # 47,494 Posted April 12, 2022 Share Posted April 12, 2022 How many cycles did you watch waiting for Bugs to hit a live one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abilene Slim SASS 81783 Posted April 12, 2022 Share Posted April 12, 2022 How did the owner come by the rounds? And please let us what happens after he contacts someone. I’m curious how the procedure works. I assume they’ll eventually be detonated? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cactus Jack Calder Posted April 12, 2022 Share Posted April 12, 2022 15 hours ago, Abilene Slim SASS 81783 said: How did the owner come by the rounds? And please let us what happens after he contacts someone. I’m curious how the procedure works. I assume they’ll eventually be detonated? Back 4-5 years ago my wife and I visited Savanah GA. There was road work in progress just Southeast of the Factors Walk tourist area. They discovered two or more unexplored (actually unknown nature) shells from the Civil War period buried in the ground without any container. They could have been fired and failed to detonate or they could have been dumped as no longer needed. I believe the US Corp of Engineers was called to blow them up in place. We heard the detonation of the destruction charges. They would not try to move them for fear of the old munitions being unstable and detonating. I would guess that is what would be done with the pieces pictured above. CJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abilene Slim SASS 81783 Posted April 12, 2022 Share Posted April 12, 2022 If they detonate them in place, they'll blow up the guy's barn. Unexploded ordnance being found in urban areas is not unusual in Europe or other places that saw heavy bombardment. They're often discovered when excavating for new construction. I don't recall them detonating them in place, but are defused. I've no idea how smaller munitions like these are handled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 Posted April 12, 2022 Share Posted April 12, 2022 I expect there will be many such ordnance found in Ukraine in the future, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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