Can it be TNT?

[vince76]

Hi guys.
Today i found this three boxes. I posted a thread quickly to have an idea what they could because i was afraid they were explosives but nobody answered so i couldn't wait and i opened one of them. It was a yellow material. It looked almost like a yellow brick whith one hole in the middle and another on the top. The same holes are in the metal box. Can it be explosive. If yes i have to call the police.
Thank you.







https://youtu.be/TX53PBUdP9I

 

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[paleomaxx]

Looks unsettlingly close to the block in a WWII German Schu mine 42.



In any case TNT is toxic and a skin irritant so setting aside the risk of explosion I would avoid any further handling without gloves.

It's worth letting the police know; finding unexploded ordinance isn't that uncommon and they probably have a good index of the different types that are out there so they could make a determination better than we could.

 

[SkaBa]

Why even take the chance ??

 

[bradyboy]

I'm not touching this one, I've already been yelled at over the golden gun posts

 

[NOLA_Ken]

They do look similar to the Schumine charge but those are definitely not Schumines, they were a little smaller and made of wood. Are there any traces of markings left on the boxes? I'm just curious.

Either way with the pre made holes that look about right for a blasting cap, I wouldn't take any chances with them. I would probably save one of the boxes though if it's reasonably intact just to try to figure out what it was made for

 

[nhbenz]

Yes, mess around no further with them.
I believe it is this here: Demolition charges experts? - Axis History Forum

 

[Tnmountains]

Being outside ....I have seen dynamite that gets old and leaky and is very unstable. Better safe than sorry. Does it smell like sulphur?
Nhbenz posted at the same time as me. I would take his advice better safe then not hearing from you again!

 

[NOLA_Ken]

Yes, mess around no further with them.
I believe it is this here: Demolition charges experts? - Axis History Forum

That is definitely it.... I think I'd still save the boxes if the charge was easily removable....

 

[Daryn]

Throw a rock at em from a distance. Don't forget to have video running. Jeez are these posts getting fun or what?

 

[Breezie]

Did you find these in Italy?


Breezie

 

[relic lover]

Looks like fire brick to me

sent from my computer by frantically poking at the keyboard with a single finger

 

[Nitric]

reminds me of this video when I see a thread like this!!

There is a vid on youtube that a guy opens a briefcase he found detecting full of explosives.

"Treasure Hunter Finds Briefcase" Is the name of it. I didn't want to link it because of language.


Have no clue what you found, but if you have any thought at all that it could be explosive? You may have played with it too much already! I'd rather error on feeling like an idiot, than to blow apart!

 

[vince76]

You are so right Nitric. I have played a lot with that without having any idea that i was playing with ..



http://www.lexpev.nl/minesandcharges/europe/germany/3kgsprengbuechse.html

Now i'm sure of it. 100 %. I am happy they didn't go boom so i can write more posts on the forum [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23][emoji23].

Please, if it happens to anyone of you don't do the same mistake. Don't play with them. For this time i was lucky.

 

[vince76]

That is definitely it.... I think I'd still save the boxes if the charge was easily removable....

Hi Ken
Thank you.
You think that if the charge is not in there they are not dangerous. So i don't have to call the police?

 

[vince76]

Yes, mess around no further with them.
I believe it is this here: Demolition charges experts? - Axis History Forum

Hi Nhbenz.
How did you recognize them? Thanks man. I have no doubts. Now i regret that i opened one. Maybe they are not active but who knows!
Thanks

 

[Palmetto Pony]

I think it's certain that the items you've found are indeed 3kg Sprengbüchse charges. They could contain either TNT or a picric acid charge. Judging from the color and texture of the contents in your photo I'd say it is indeed a picric acid charge. With that said, DO NOT tamper with it any further!! Just like TNT will eventually sweat nitroglycerin when it gets old, the picric acid will sweat out of the casting. While some of the brown marks appear to be from rust, some appear to be just such sweating. It is HIGHLY reactive to even mild friction thereby setting it off.

When I was in the military stationed in the Marianas Islands I found out about picric acid charges from a U.S. Navy EOD team. They were the ummmm, guys that were called to my barracks room when my stuff was being packed for transfer. I had found a bunch of demil'ed and disassembled 20mm Japanese mortar shells on one of the northern islands. I pieced a really nice one back together and had kept it in my room for over a year. It was completely empty except for a few small flecks that looked like dirty plaster of paris inside the nose. People used to freak when they saw it until I told them it was empty. They'd unscrew the nose and look inside to see. The EOD guys told me that remaining flecks were the picric acid charge and there was enough there to blow my room up. They also said the mere friction of unscrewing the nose could have set it off had the charge sweated onto the threads. YIKES!!!!

 

[vince76]

I can not play anymore with them. The police is here.

 

[NOLA_Ken]

Hi Ken
Thank you.
You think that if the charge is not in there they are not dangerous. So i don't have to call the police?

Well the empty boxes by themselves are harmless, and in good condition will have some collector interest since I'd imagine they are somewhat scarce... I would wash them out with soap and water to get rid of any residue though. The explosive blocks themselves are probably an explosive called "Amatol" and I would definitely call the authorities about those so they can be properly disposed of.

 

[Breezie]

I can not play anymore with them. The police is here.View attachment 1359583

I look forward to hearing what the police said. I still want to know if you found these in Italy.

Breezie

 

[vince76]

I look forward to hearing what the police said. I still want to know if you found these in Italy.

Breezie

Yes, i found them in Italy. In a park where i usually search.