Old Vets Might Enjoy

[Texas Kid]

Found these little jewels not far from a WWII Army Airfield in the Texas Panhandle. Looks like a section of a ammo belt. They look like fifty cal. they all have pin dimples in the primers but are still loaded. Sorry for the head stamp picture, but it has the letters "KS" and the number 43. I'm guessing that was the year they were made. I'm also guessing they were ejected from a B-17 or B-25 Gun placement. Just wonder if they had a real problem with duds. Some of you old vets chime in ! Although I had my MD these were surface finds about ten miles from the airfield.The wind has been horrible here all winter and the drought has let the ground move around so they were just laying there. Some old timers might enjoy these. Would love to hear back from you!! The Kid

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Diving for Pleasure and Treasure - Grab it through Amazon!

[TheCannonballGuy]

Since you asked... based on the 5-cent coin, they appear to be US .30-caliber machine gun cartridges. You are correct, the "43" stamped into their base is the year of manufacture. The "KS" stamping represents the ammo manufacturing facility, but I cannot recall its name. The fact that one of the cartridges still has a belt-link on it indicates they were not ejected from an airplane's machine gun.

 

[beez0404]

I'm thinking they are .50 cal manufactured in Maryland at the Kelly Springfield plant. Definitely not an expert so don't hold me to it.

 

[PullTabProphet]

It is .50 cal. I have a few but, mine are marked "SL 43" for the St. Louis plant. Nice find!

 

[Texas Kid]

Thank you Cannonball for all that good info! I'm proud to have learned a little something today!

 

[Texas Kid]

Also big thanks to Beezo and Pull Tab !!!!

 

[DixieLandMan]

Those are cool finds. Fired a lot of .50 cal overseas. Some of them were marked LC 43 and they still shot like they were just made.

 

[mirage83]

Trivia for today, the KS headstamp was the Kelly Springfield Allegany Ordnance Plant in Maryland. Kelly Springfield Tire operated it in 1943 and 1944.

 

[vpnavy]

Cool finds! Thanks for sharing...