My First Live Hotchkiss Artillery Shell

[genlee]

I can check this relic off my bucket list now. This is a Hotchkiss 2 1/2" diameter shell

Tony, Gerry and myself were at a new site on Saturday. Well it is not a new site as in never been hunter, but new for us. I had gone out a few weekends ago to scout it out and found several fired bullets, four to be exact and all I did was walk in a straight line, for one hour.

Ok so back to yesterday, we got to the field around 7:45 am, and got busy.

About any hour into the hunt we all had a few relics, but nothing to right home about. So I head to the top of a ridge, that looked trashy and it was, but nothing to bad, just a lot of digging.

So my Fisher screams at me with a 78 solid signal but it was a high Iron reading, And it was 14+ inches so I figure it has to be something old. And it was right under a large root. After about 30 minutes of digging, probing and digging and probing I start to see the base of the shell. Now I was not sure what it was, as I have dug axles before, so out of the ground this bad boy popped.

I have to say I was a bit intimidated holding an unexploded shell in my hands, so I ran down the hill figuring if I was going to go it was going to be a skip in my step and amile on my face.

So this is my best for the year.

 

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[tennessee]

Congratulations. Exciting find. I have 2 live parrott shells in my garage right now. Not at all worried about them. I plan on having them dissarmed. Thanks for sharing.

 

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[Gunrunner61]

I'd walk backward barefoot on broken glass to my truck just to find one of those puppies...... Congrats

 

[Valley Ranger]

Superb find!

 

[smokeythecat]

Don't let anybody in the government know about it, they could pay a visit! They take themselves way too seriously. 40 years ago, my friends and I found some relics from a crashed WWII bomber in Maryland. From memory, I think they were the innards of old batteries, but the police of that day came and disposed of them. I don't know how they did it, was too young.

 

[genlee]

Well Smokey even if the Govt new, they would be hard pressed to get it from me. I don't roll over that easy LOL But seriously.



John

 

[Limitool]

Well Smokey even if the Govt new, they would be hard pressed to get it from me. I don't roll over that easy LOL But seriously.



John

genlee.... Amen!!!!! Your not the only one who feels that way. And I got a good feeling @ 90% + that were not alone either. I'd go stiff instantly if Govt. showed up and wanted anything from me that I wanted, found, bought or inherited. No "rolling over" here either.... Brad

 

[genlee]

I agree I am sure there are more out there who feel the same. I however feel that if I found it in the ground, it is mine that is of course with the permission of the land owner as I like to share with them.


John

 

[smokeythecat]

I really doubt anybody in the gov't has any interest in us "little people". You always have to watch out for a do-gooder, though. The only cannon balls I have found have been Rev War solid shots. Nothing Civil War.

 

[Follows Camp Craig]

I really doubt anybody in the gov't has any interest in us "little people". You always have to watch out for a do-gooder, though. The only cannon balls I have found have been Rev War solid shots. Nothing Civil War.

Not unless your large diameter peashooter has a rifled barrel.
Smoothbore originals or repros are ignored. Dixie gun works repros VS
Little John's originals


Depending on your piece,
Some "G men" take notice.