"trench art" ashtray, fell out of the ceiling at me...

[NOLA_Ken]

I remodel houses for a living, and I'm always finding interesting things hidden in walls and under floor boards, but this is a first...

Pulling down a rotten old plaster ceiling, this ashtray almost hit me in the head when it came falling out. I say "trench art" because it's dated 1948, so technically not actually made in a trench, but still really cool. It's made from a U.S. Navy 3 inch 50 cal shell, from the Navy dual purpose gun.

I couldn't get a good pic of the headstamp, but it is marked : "3-IN-50-CAL-MK 7-MOD O- N.S. 4 - 1948 - D.C.M LOT 43(x'd out for some reason)" With the U.S. over an anchor stamp for Navy. Still has the original MK 42 primer in it as well.

I'm still debating whether to polish it up or not, I know it'll look really good shined up but I kinda like the patina as well....



Here's a pic of an uncut shell....

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

How to Research for Treasure Hunting and Metal Detecting From Lead Generation to Vetting - Grab it through Amazon!

[relic nut]

That's cool!! Nice find [emoji106]

HH RN

 

[kingskid1611]

That is a beauty piece.

 

[highnam]

Cool find or I guess it found you...have you seen any others made?

 

[trapperart]

Very cool find

 

[NOLA_Ken]

Cool find or I guess it found you...have you seen any others made?

I looked online and found a few that are similar, it seems no two are exactly the same, or at least not on google images

 

[Loco-Digger]

Sweet ashtray, I brought one back from Uzbekistan where some air force troops made some to kill time from 105 rounds used by AC-130's while attacking Taliban forces back in 2003 . Even though the primer was expended I had to remove it to bring the ashtray back. Once hoe, I pressed it back in.

 

[CMDiamonddawg]

How about that , , an ashtray , never could figure out what the heck these shells were used for
... trench art , nice stuff ...

Thanks , now that you id ed what it is ,
I can now sell the crate full of WW II 105's & Kraut 88 mm that have been abandoned in my Company warehouse ..
Thanks again , very interesting soldier bring back item.

 

[port ewen ace]

leave the patina as is-----check my post on the 1812 LC and the trench art lighter I dug last week. 75 Cal shell & '42 & '43 Brit 3 pence.

 

[Tuberale]

I remodel houses for a living, and I'm always finding interesting things hidden in walls and under floor boards, but this is a first...

Pulling down a rotten old plaster ceiling, this ashtray almost hit me in the head when it came falling out. I say "trench art" because it's dated 1948, so technically not actually made in a trench, but still really cool. It's made from a U.S. Navy 3 inch 50 cal shell, from the Navy dual purpose gun.

I couldn't get a good pic of the headstamp, but it is marked : "3-IN-50-CAL-MK 7-MOD O- N.S. 4 - 1948 - D.C.M LOT 43(x'd out for some reason)" With the U.S. over an anchor stamp for Navy. Still has the original MK 42 primer in it as well.

I'm still debating whether to polish it up or not, I know it'll look really good shined up but I kinda like the patina as well....

View attachment 1352200View attachment 1352201

Here's a pic of an uncut shell....

View attachment 1352202

I'd vote to leave it as is, Ken. The patina will remind you of how you found it. I hope.

 

[Westfront]

Cool find Ken! I've seen ashtrays, bird baths and many flower vases made out of shells. Most made of WWII 105mm howitzer shells. Most of our German ones were made of steel, so they used American stuff for that.

 

[NOLA_Ken]

How about that , , an ashtray , never could figure out what the heck these shells were used for
... trench art , nice stuff ...

Thanks , now that you id ed what it is ,
I can now sell the crate full of WW II 105's & Kraut 88 mm that have been abandoned in my Company warehouse ..
Thanks again , very interesting soldier bring back item.

I'd be interested in the 88's, msg me if you pull them out

 

[Westfront]

I'd be interested in the 88's, msg me if you pull them out

Me too....