Life 76mm AP Shell and other stuff...

Westfront

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Jun 15, 2010
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Went out with a buddy to check out a couple fields for the new season. We came home with some coins, buttons and mostly trash in the pouch. Another bird band with part of the bird still in was found too.
When we stopped at a field adjacent to a roman site his first signal was "something big"... :tongue3:
Something big and iron in our area means usually digging carefully or just pass. The signal was short below the surface and he popped out a 75/76mm AP shell left by someones grandpa during his European tour in spring 1945. So if someone had a tank gunner in his family who missed a shot, i know where the shell went. I added two pics to illustrate how it looked when new.
The only old finds were two small bronze plates with gold gilt remaining. Now we have to wait for potatoe harvest there to get more roman stuff.
 

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Upvote 21
Ineresting bunch of finds! As far as "old stuff", I would consider that 1500's button, old, too!
Good Luck!!

Iowa Dale
 

Not too informed on military projectiles but, is that "round" safe to handle? I would have probably crapped my drawers if I new what it was I was uncovering!:o I remember finding my four inch twelve pound cannon ball, at night, and instantly looking for a "fuse" on it. Fortunately it was a solid shot and I ran off for home with it. Cool recoveries there mate. :hello:
 

Ineresting bunch of finds! As far as "old stuff", I would consider that 1500's button, old, too!
Good Luck!!

Iowa Dale

Yeap, I think I would have mentioned the Tudor period Button, specially as its not a plain type.:thumbsup:

Anyways, I think we are both waiting right now. It's exciting times as we wait for new permissions & the old faithfuls.
 

Yeap, I think I would have mentioned the Tudor period Button, specially as its not a plain type.:thumbsup:

Anyways, I think we are both waiting right now. It's exciting times as we wait for new permissions & the old faithfuls.

You know these are my favorite button design and this one is very well made and i guess it was once gilded. Nothing left and slightly damaged but still a button for the display case and my find of the day.
 

Not too informed on military projectiles but, is that "round" safe to handle? I would have probably crapped my drawers if I new what it was I was uncovering!:o I remember finding my four inch twelve pound cannon ball, at night, and instantly looking for a "fuse" on it. Fortunately it was a solid shot and I ran off for home with it. Cool recoveries there mate. :hello:

This one is NOT safe to handle. I wouldn't say safe to any uxo laying in the ground for 70+years however these may be not as dangerous than others. It's covered again and reported to the authorities.
 

This one is NOT safe to handle. I wouldn't say safe to any uxo laying in the ground for 70+years however these may be not as dangerous than others.

Met the guys of the Bomb Disposal Unit at the site today. I said 75mm AP when i called him, he said it's a 76mm.
Don't bet with a guy who works with explosives every day... Not that i was wrong, he got a hatchet out of their truck and beat the crap out of the rusty shell to see if there is a wide or a narrow driving band.:angel7: Wide is 76mm. Ok, he probably knows his stuff as he's in his 50s and still alive. I had a look in the sandbox, but there were just two barrel of the MG42 machine gun.
 

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Last edited:
Met the guys of the Bomb Disposal Unit at the site today. I said 75mm AP when i called him, he said it's a 76mm.
Don't bet with a guy who works with explosives every day... Not that i was wrong, he got a hatchet out of their truck and beat the crap out of the rusty shell to see if there is a wide or a narrow driving band.:angel7: Wide is 76mm. Ok, he probably knows his stuff as he's in his 50s and still alive. I had a look in the sandbox, but there were just two barrel of the MG42 machine gun.

Hey Westfront didnt see your post till today!
U did call the UXO experts after all. That thing sure gave of a hell of a signal haha
I wouldnt have gotten close to that thing with a hatchet let alone hammer around on the bugger haha
 

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