What caliber is this?

KBP · May 4, 2011, 07:20 AM

I was rototilling my garden the other day and my rototiller kicked this up! I do a lot of reloading but can't imagine what this was doing in my garden. Anybody have an idea what it is?MVC-042S.JPG

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mapsjanhere · May 4, 2011, 07:59 AM

Seems to be about 1 1/2 inches, that makes it a 37 mm round. Very popular caliber for anti-tank guns and AAA before WWII.

wogpotter · May 4, 2011, 08:02 AM

Hotchkiss shell maybe?
Take care with it they were frequently explosive-filled & some remain active even after all that time in the dirt.
link here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotchkiss_gun

KBP · May 4, 2011, 10:49 AM

The diameter is closer to 1 3/8 " and the strangest thing is that blue liquid that smells like paint is ozing out the opening in the end of the shell! The soil in my garden came from an area near an old dump on the Shamokin Trail in PA which was an old indian trail that dates back to colonial days which George Washington traveled! I don't think the "bullet" is that old but maybe quite a few years ago the area on the top of my hill was used as a target range. The dirt was dug from several feet underground.

Scorch · May 4, 2011, 11:39 AM

Quote:

The diameter is closer to 1 3/8 "

That would make it about 30mm-35mm.

Quote:

blue liquid that smells like paint is ozing out the opening in the end of the shell

It is probably a WW2-era practice shell, many were filled with paint or dye powder to mark hits during live-fire "war games". I used to have a 40mm rocket launcher ("Bazooka") practice round, and it was filled with red powder.

How it got into your yard is anyone's guess, but a lot of open areas were used for military training before WW2.

Hawg · May 4, 2011, 11:54 AM

I dunno, it looks an awful lot like an unfired early Hotchkiss without the flame grooves. Does it have an iron fuse holder in the nose with slots for a spanner wrench?

jonnyc · May 4, 2011, 03:02 PM

Almost surely a 37mm AP or Practice projo. Not really in any condition worth saving.

marksman8351 · May 18, 2011, 08:21 PM

i would keep it and put it in a box. something to show/pass on to the grandkids

May 4, 2011, 07:20 AM	#1
KBP Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2010 Location: Luthersburg, PA Posts: 311	What caliber is this? I was rototilling my garden the other day and my rototiller kicked this up! I do a lot of reloading but can't imagine what this was doing in my garden. Anybody have an idea what it is?MVC-042S.JPG MVC-043S.JPG MVC-044S.JPG

May 4, 2011, 07:59 AM	#2
mapsjanhere Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2009 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 2,832	Seems to be about 1 1/2 inches, that makes it a 37 mm round. Very popular caliber for anti-tank guns and AAA before WWII. __________________ I used to love being able to hit hard at 1000 yards. As I get older I find hitting a mini ram at 200 yards with the 22 oddly more satisfying.

May 4, 2011, 08:02 AM	#3
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	Hotchkiss shell maybe? Take care with it they were frequently explosive-filled & some remain active even after all that time in the dirt. link here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotchkiss_gun __________________ Allan Quatermain: “Automatic rifles. Who in God's name has automatic rifles”? Elderly Hunter: “That's dashed unsporting. Probably Belgium.”

May 4, 2011, 10:49 AM	#4
KBP Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2010 Location: Luthersburg, PA Posts: 311	What caliber is this? The diameter is closer to 1 3/8 " and the strangest thing is that blue liquid that smells like paint is ozing out the opening in the end of the shell! The soil in my garden came from an area near an old dump on the Shamokin Trail in PA which was an old indian trail that dates back to colonial days which George Washington traveled! I don't think the "bullet" is that old but maybe quite a few years ago the area on the top of my hill was used as a target range. The dirt was dug from several feet underground.

May 4, 2011, 11:54 AM	#6
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	I dunno, it looks an awful lot like an unfired early Hotchkiss without the flame grooves. Does it have an iron fuse holder in the nose with slots for a spanner wrench?

May 4, 2011, 03:02 PM	#7
jonnyc Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2009 Location: PA Posts: 1,731	Almost surely a 37mm AP or Practice projo. Not really in any condition worth saving.

May 18, 2011, 08:21 PM	#8
marksman8351 Member Join Date: February 22, 2011 Posts: 74	i would keep it and put it in a box. something to show/pass on to the grandkids