Normal Michigan Farm Field Digs - BATTLE OF THE BULGE

[Michigan Badger]

So I decided to do a tilled field by lumberjack town.

Notice that hunting the average plowed field in Michigan is a bit different from hunting a field down south in the middle of a CW battle area.

In fact, in some fields you could go through a set of batteries and never dig a thing.

Here's my take for the day and it ain't to pretty.

Note the closeup on the square shaped do-hicky. What is it? It's made of brass and these show up fairly frequently.

Rifle and shotgun shells are almost everywhere. I figure the shotguns come from early weddings and the rifle from deer hunting.

 

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[tsgman]

Re: Normal Michigan Farm Field Digs

Cool finds, but i think they probably were for very large Libs! Tsgman

 

[Michigan Badger]

Re: Normal Michigan Farm Field Digs

Cool finds, but i think they probably were for very large Libs! Tsgman

Na, this area is mostly Libs

 

[Bavaria Mike]

Re: Normal Michigan Farm Field Digs

Cool buckle and that is one huge round! I found a live one about that size many years ago. HH, Mike

 

[trk5capt]

Re: Normal Michigan Farm Field Digs

BADGER, The Large Shell Casing Looks To Be A .50cal Machine Gun Round WW2. Interesting Finds. trk5capt...

 

[Michigan Badger]

Re: Normal Michigan Farm Field Digs

BADGER, The Large Shell Casing Looks To Be A .50cal Machine Gun Round WW2. Interesting Finds. trk5capt...

The picture is deceiving and makes it look maybe smaller than it really is.

I was just trying to be funny. Actually the casing is 57mm and was dug in Germany.

It was recovered a few years ago in a foxhole at the location of THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE (the Battle of the Ardennes). It was found next a complete round in the container. The 57mm caliber is not easy to find! It's clearly marked and dated 1943 a WWII artillery Anti-Tank shell.

I bought this mainly because I once had a good friend who had been wounded at the Battle of the Bulge.

 

[Gypsy Heart]

Nice finds...That buckle is way to cool...I always like to see what you are digging up there! Keep up the great posts !

 

[nhbenz]

Nice finds Badger. But you're shell is a year earlier than the Battle of the Bulge. Nice uncommon shell though!

 

[Michigan Badger]

Nice finds Badger. But you're shell is a year earlier than the Battle of the Bulge. Nice uncommon shell though!

They stamped the shell casings when made. It needed time to be transported to Germany (1 year). Thus a 1943 shell used in 1944.

 

[Boobydoo]

Nice relics Badger,
you have a lot of drive
and patiance. Good luck to ya!

Smiles!
BDoo

 

[dave-enc]

congrats on the finds badger wtg
hh
dave+bobbie

 

[nhbenz]

Oops, sorry Badger. What was I thinking? :P

 

[Dave N Japan]

Nice finds, Like the shells here, made around 43 but the battle was in 45... Had a shell like that when I was in the military living in the barracks, we used it as a ash tray! I wonder what happen to that old thing Had it all clean and shinny at one time! It was not from the war, just something someone picked up at a range or somewhere..
Anyway, nice finds!

 

[southbound]

Nice collection of relics!!! Congrats.
Vern

 

[Michigan Badger]

Nice finds, Like the shells here, made around 43 but the battle was in 45... Had a shell like that when I was in the military living in the barracks, we used it as a ash tray! I wonder what happen to that old thing Had it all clean and shinny at one time! It was not from the war, just something someone picked up at a range or somewhere..
Anyway, nice finds!

Some ash tray! Pretty neat.

The Battle of the Bulge went from December 16, 1944 to January 25, 1945.

Years ago when I worked in the automotive industry there was an employee in the plant who was a surviver of the battle. Gene was one of my best friends. He told me how a sniper got his buddies but just in time he fell backward and threw him off target. Those German snipers were darn good shots and he still managed to pump a shot into Gene even after that. Gene laid there on the frozen ground all night but the snow stopped the bleeding.

It's a long story but I never forgot it. When I got the chance to get this I went for it. Now I'm just trying to make up my mind to clean it up or not.

Badger

 

[Southcacalaky]

Interesting finds, Congrats, HH Art...

 

[Real de Tayopa Tropical Tramp]

Re: Normal Michigan Farm Field Digs

5capt ]
The Large Shell Casing Looks To Be A .50cal Machine Gun Round WW2. Interesting Finds. trk5capt...
*******************

A HI my friend, that was my original impression also until I noticed the relationship of case diameter to primer dia. and associated extra stamping, , that was the clue. You do do one fine job of id'ing weapons data , keep it up.

A nice speciman Badger.

Till Eulenspiegle de La Mancha

 

[allen]

those are some interesting and really cool finds. keep on digging...