Really BIG Bullets, Cannon ordinance ?

[BC1969]

Was searching around a old home site that dates to the 1850's today, there is a old outdoor chimney type thing way out back near the woods, well I was searching around it and noticed there was a cavity in the furnace thingy, reached in and felt something cold, went to grab it but I could'nt really lift it with one hand, so I had remove a few old bricks, to get them out.
Biggest damn bullets I have ever seen, the big one must weigh 50 pounds, and the little one maybe 35 pounds, the smaller of the 2 has, it looks like brass rifling.
I do not have a camera, so I will do the best I can with my crappy phone.
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Also found this silver what-is-it
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Any ideas on them bullets, I would really appreciate it, I cannot find anything close to them.

Mike

 

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[bobby5]

I think those could still Explode.......

 

[BC1969]

Man....I was thinking that myself lol, I took the pics and put them out in the garage in my floor safe, so if they blow, atleast I'll know if I bought a good safe or not heh.

Mike

 

[bobby5]

Hopefully someone will chime in and let you know, pretty quick.

 

[NOLA_Ken]

Without EXACT measurements of their diameter, I'm guessing you have a 55mm and a 90mm projectile there. I had to measure a pack of smokes and approximate. Those are base fused shells and could potentially be high explosive shells. It would be a good idea to have an expert check them out.

 

[BC1969]

for the life of me I cannot find a tape measure, will look more shortly.

Mike

 

[Beeps in my sleep]

those both have hammer holes in them and they didn't go off! If I were you I would contact the police or bomb squad. Civil war explosives still go off. Be careful with those!

 

[NOLA_Ken]

for the life of me I cannot find a tape measure, will look more shortly.

Mike

We'll need measurements in millimeters. Also look closely for any numbers stamped into them on the base, or near the rotator band

 

[NOLA_Ken]

those both have hammer holes in them and they didn't go off! If I were you I would contact the police or bomb squad. Civil war explosives still go off. Be careful with those!

The holes in the base are the fuses. A close up of those would also be helpful. It's very likely they are fired practice rounds, a photo of the fuses would help clear that up

 

[BC1969]

the big one at its widest is just slightly bigger than 3 1/2 inches, is the bottom scale on a tape measure millimeters ? in that size its exactly 9
Gah I dont remember how to read a tape lol /cry
the little one has something, numbers or letters stamped on the bottom, and a diamond shaped stamp, really rough surface.
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Mike

 

[NOLA_Ken]

Looking at the pic of the smaller one it appears to be 75mm, and I think it's a round for the M1897 A4 cannon. Variations of this gun were in use up ino the 1960's as I recall. Probably around WW2 era but could be older. It's likely also a solid shot anti tank round with a tracer element in the base. The other is a 90mm Anti tank round, WW2 era, it should be a solid shot and the piece in the base would have been a tracer element. They both appear to have been fired, which would render them inert if they are solid shot with tracer, BUT there were also versions loaded with high explosive and white phosphorus. I'd have them checked out by an expert to make sure. There are several artillery collectors forums online, and I'd suggest joining one and posting detailed pics and measurements, including accurate weights for both shells (use a postal scale for accuracy)

 

[BC1969]

Man thanks alot for the info Ken or is it Nola ?.
I am going to try and find somebody here in michigan that can help me out, for some reason I do not feel comfortable walking into the local state police building with them lol.
From what I know of the owner of the homesite, he was in WW1, and the house was torn down in 28.
but that does not mean somebody did'nt stash them there at a later date, probably got scared and wanted to dump them somewhere safe.
Thanks again.

Mike

Any ideas on what that silver brooch looking thing may be ?

 

[farmerjay]

How old are those ? Good Find.

 

[NOLA_Ken]

Try sending pics and details to the IAA : An Introduction To Collecting Artillery Shells And Shell Casings - International Ammunition Association I'm sure they can id them for you, or put you in touch with someone in your area. I would date them post WW1 though since there really was no such thing as an anti tank round until tanks became commonplace. Be sure to let me know what you find out....

Ken (NOLA is where I live)

 

[CASPER-2]

 

[vpnavy]

 

[BC1969]

Ahh thank you again Ken.
Will be toting those around with me today, I have a good friend that was in WW2.
And still has a good memory, and a lot of WW2 buddies.
He is a great man, if you love the military, and history, check his website out, and he has a biography of those days, it is a great book.

Ranger Copeland

Mike

 

[jewelerguy]

having that stuff within a 100 yards of me would make me nervous. thanks anyway, but I'll stick to coins and rings and stuff that won't kill me

 

[WolfmoonX]

Ahh thank you again Ken.
Will be toting those around with me today, I have a good friend that was in WW2.
And still has a good memory, and a lot of WW2 buddies.
He is a great man, if you love the military, and history, check his website out, and he has a biography of those days, it is a great book.

Ranger Copeland

Mike

I would advise against riding around with those until you get someone there to get a positive ID and assure that they can't explode. Also, how would you explain them if you got pulled over?

 

[borntohunt460]

MDers have died messing with stuff like that.....