Strange WWI find on the beach NJ

Buried Crap NJ

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When out today to a beach less hunted. It was very clear as I dug a ton of trash. I did get a interesting find. It looked good in the scoop but I had no clue as to what is was.Turns out to be a WWI Imperial German oil flask. The info I found says these were turned into lighters.
It seems that's what I found. They normally have just one hole for the top. Mine has two so a flint could be installed.Mine is missing the back plate. Maybe it's off the German U-boat U-869 that was sunk off NJ

Here's some info I found so far.

http://www.snyderstreasures.com/pages/lighters.htm
 

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Smudge

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Re: Strange WWII find on the beach NJ

Could have been dropped by a former soldier after the war was over too. They collected a lot of souvenirs during the war.
 

Montauk3

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Very interesting. I love stuff like that.
 

diggummup

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Nice find. Many of these were used to make what is referred to as "trench art". I've seen them as lighters, ashtrays, and several other things. They were originally belt buckles I believe. I sold a matchbook holder that had that emblem on it a couple months back on Ebay.

!B5PVZDw!Wk~$(KGrHqQOKk!EyQPUOfyQBMs2R4rcc!~~_3.jpg
 

OP
OP
Buried Crap NJ

Buried Crap NJ

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Re: Strange WWII find on the beach NJ

Smudge said:
Could have been dropped by a former soldier after the war was over too. They collected a lot of souvenirs during the war.
I did not think a German soldier dropped it! LOL! But when we find 1794 8 Reales on the beach I don't think that a coin collector dropped it either. Who know how stuff gets where, I am just glad it was under the coil today.
 

Smudge

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Re: Strange WWII find on the beach NJ

Buried Crap NJ said:
Smudge said:
Could have been dropped by a former soldier after the war was over too. They collected a lot of souvenirs during the war.
I did not think a German soldier dropped it! LOL! But when we find 1794 8 Reales on the beach I don't think that a coin collector dropped it either. Who know how stuff gets where, I am just glad it was under the coil today.

Not a German soldier!!! :D An American soldier who brought it back from the war!
 

diggummup

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Re: Strange WWII find on the beach NJ

Smudge said:
Buried Crap NJ said:
Smudge said:
Could have been dropped by a former soldier after the war was over too. They collected a lot of souvenirs during the war.
I did not think a German soldier dropped it! LOL! But when we find 1794 8 Reales on the beach I don't think that a coin collector dropped it either. Who know how stuff gets where, I am just glad it was under the coil today.

Not a German soldier!!! :D An American soldier who brought it back from the war!
LOL....That's where the one I had came from... An American Soldier's souvenir.
 

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Buried Crap NJ

Buried Crap NJ

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Re: Strange WWII find on the beach NJ

Smudge said:
Buried Crap NJ said:
Smudge said:
Could have been dropped by a former soldier after the war was over too. They collected a lot of souvenirs during the war.
I did not think a German soldier dropped it! LOL! But when we find 1794 8 Reales on the beach I don't think that a coin collector dropped it either. Who know how stuff gets where, I am just glad it was under the coil today.

Not a German soldier!!! :D An American soldier who brought it back from the war!


I Know what you were saying. What I was saying funny Ha Ha! German walking the beach.
I think your response was right on the first time. Someone brought it back with them and lost it since.
Still a cool find in my book.
 

artyfacts

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Do not forget about the wonderful Army Corps Of Engineers losing a long term battle with beach erosion on the Jersey shore. If it wasn't dropped there its very possible it was pumped onto the beach. Are shoreline is one of the most dangerous coasts due to the ever changing sand. Here today gone tomorrow . Very nice find, do not give up on that area. Arty
 

lorraine

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That is a very interesting find!

I love historical finds like that.

Thanks for the link /information; I learned something new today.
 

pinebarrens1

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i see we hunt the same beaches . but never met you . i hunt mostly at night . hope to met you soon one day
 

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