1893? Whats this? Found on beach in Charleston SC

[usernamesrule]

1893? What's this? Found on beach in Charleston SC

My friend and I found this on a beach here in Charleston. I don't have any idea what it is. I'm going to try to attach some pictures, hopefully they come through.

Anyway, it's 10 inches long, and 1.5 inches in diameter. one end has a cap inscribed "1. PDR. S.H.P.K.F. 1893. ?(Greek symbol for life?). T.F.J. J.H.L.H." It looks like a long bullet actually. I don't think that's what it is though. The body of the item can be taken apart. The outer sleeve is made of wood. the inner portion is some kind of metal. The end cap and top appear to be brass. The top section used to fit over the wood, but it doesn't now, as the wood has apparently expanded while drying.

On the inscription, The first "1", could possibly be an "L". The first "k", looks kind of like it should be an "R", but didn't strike correctly when stamped. Also, the last "J.H.L.H" is slightly smaller than the rest of the text. In the "PDR" section, the "DR" is smaller than the "P". There may be more text between the "PDR" and the "SHPKF", but I haven't scrapped the barnacles off.

The whole thing weighs about 2 pounds. That's a guess though.

What the heck to I have here? It's pretty dang interesting, but it's killing me not knowing what it is. The only things I have been able to come up with is some kind of bullet or maybe a monacle? It doesn't seem like a bullet, since there's not much of a projectile, no apparent powder, wood?

Any ideas welcome. I'm stumped. I can post more pics if you'd like them.

 

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[cedarratt]

Re: 1893? What's this? Found on beach in Charleston SC

Looks like it may be a telescope.

 

[cedarratt]

Re: 1893? What's this? Found on beach in Charleston SC

Oh shoot now that I think about it. it look just like an old artilery training round they used to use to practice loading and unloading the cannons. Might check into that they were made out of wood so that they wieghed the same as the real thing.

 

[Cfm]

Re: 1893? What's this? Found on beach in Charleston SC

The steel rod is keyed, looks like a roller for something and the brass could be a bushing. Just my opinion.

 

[MiddenMonster]

Re: 1893? What's this? Found on beach in Charleston SC

The steel rod is keyed, looks like a roller for something and the brass could be a bushing. Just my opinion.

That was the first thing I "keyed" in on, too. My impression was that it is a die for a piece of machinery. The keyed end would allow for no movement when force is applied and also quick removal if a different size or tip is needed.

 

[usernamesrule]

Thanks guys.

After doing more research, I think Cedarratt was right. I googled "1-Pdr" and found a bunch of stuff about a "1 pdr gun". I think this is a dummy round.

Anyway, thanks for your help.

 

[TOWcritter]

Re: 1893? What's this? Found on beach in Charleston SC

Check online at the Aberdeen Proving Ground Ordinance Museum. You'll find it there. They test EVERYTHING for the armed forces there and have an extensive collection.

 

[Monty]

Re: 1893? What's this? Found on beach in Charleston SC

Artillery shell!

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Re: 1893? What's this? Found on beach in Charleston SC

My main area of relic-knowledge is civil war era artillery projectiles & fuzes. I'm not so deeply educated about artillery projectiles from later eras. That being said, I recognize some clues about this object.

Though it does resememble a telescope, in actuality it is practice-dummy artillery ammunition. (Good thinking, Cedarratt!) The markings on its brass base show it is for the US Navy's 1-pounder caliber Hotchkiss cannon, from the late 19th-century.

The object's base is stamped "1-Pdr." ...and the object's finder (Usernamesrule) said it is 1-&-1/2" in diameter, which corresponds to the caliber (37mm) of the 1-pounder Hotchkiss cannon.

The symbol which the finder thought looked like the Greek (actually, ancient Egyptian) symbol for Life is instead a poorly-stamped US Navy anchor symbol to indicate it is Navy ammunition. As I mentioned above, the US Navy used the 1-pounder Hotchkiss cannon in the late 19th-century.

In order to do research on the base's other markings, I'll need the finder to (delicately) clean off the remaining encrustation which covers some of the markings, and post a close-up photo of the fully-cleaned base.

I think this "dummy" ammunition was manufactured as two connected parts in order to visually resemble the real 1-pounder Hotchkiss ammunition ...which also consisted of two parts -- the brass catrridge for the propellant-powder, and the pointy-nosed projectile which fit into the brass cartridge.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: 1893? What's this? Found on beach in Charleston SC

I just ran across this old post while searching for something else. I thought it might be Hotchkiss so I brought it to your attention Cannonballguy while you were here to get a better ID. Thanks. I dont know if the original poster is still active.