Anyone know?

[sthrngold07]

To tell you a lil story in behind this.I was probably 10yrs old and was guiding an old hand plow behind my Papa which was on the tractor when we hit something hard,he got off the tractor to get it(which he though was a big rock) and this is what he came up outta the dirt with.He had put it up from me thinking it was a mortar head and may not've been fired yet.He passed away in Nov.,but a coupla yrs ago when we went to the nursing home to see him,I asked if he could still remember where he'd put it,if was even still there,OF COurse he knew,he had sucha awesome mind and memory.Anyway he told me exactly where he had hidden it,so now I have it with me and plan on making a display for it,one for it always keeping me in suspense what it was and the main reason is for how much I loved him and respected him!OK.....sorry for that short long story,but I will say that we know the Civil War came through this way and I'm thinking maybe a Parrot Shell or something,but I'd like to fin out what is for sure though.They lived up on a pretty big hill and was where it was found,it weighs appr. 6 1/4lbs.,the base is 2 1/8" wide,and it's 6 5/8" long,Also the grayish looking 'ring' that you see near the bottom seems to be brass maybe copper ....hope this helped.PLEASE,someone know what this is! Thanks for ANY opinions,guesses,info,help,and or whatever you can give me!

 

[sthrngold07]

Thanks,but he was my Grandfather although if anyone didn't know better when I was around them,they'd think they were my parents,I stayed up there more than at my parent's house.Anyway....that WAS the reason he kept it put up and trust me ,I'm VERY careful with it.I have heard of a lotta farmers getting killed by just hitting old mortars just as the way we found this one,apparantly it doesn't take a whole lot to set the 'old things' off.I'm trying to also find somebody to see if it's still live IF it's actually a mortar head or whatever they're called.

 

[BioProfessor]

You've got a big problem on your hands. Get it out of the house! You can be careful with it and it will still go off. If it is still sealed (I doubt that it is but you never know), the powder can be unstable. That means it can just sort of go off by being moved - like picked up!

Call an expert NOW and do what they say. No artifact is worth arms, legs, eys, house, life, etc.

Call now!

Daryl

 

[BioProfessor]

I was referring to a Bomb Disposal Expert. Not necessarily a CW person.

Call now!

Daryl

 

[Angelo]

I was referring to a Bomb Disposal Expert. Not necessarily a CW person.

Call now!

Daryl

Daryl, you should be able to help on this one. Since you fought in the Civil War and all.

Tony

 

[BioProfessor]

Yeah, I fought in it but joined a little too late. If I had gotten there a little sooner. We wouldn't have lost the war. Hang on to those Civil War notes, the South shall rise again. Oh crap, forgot my meds this morning.


No problem TreasureTales. I just wanted to make sure he didn't try to find a CW person and spend a month doing it. I'd hate to lose a TN member because a nice find takes his head off.

Daryl

 

[sthrngold07]

I've included another photo of it on the bottom side.Listen.....I appreciate the concern,I just wished I could express to ya'll how careful I am with it and how I KNOW how dangerous it can be.I sincerally thank ya'll fo your concern,but I'd also like to know what it could be.thanks again.

 

[BioProfessor]

For sure it's a fricking BOMB.

Daryl

Couldn't help myself either.

 

[lonesomebob]

Please take pictures of the removal and disposal of this find . BY some bomb disposal or ordinance person . Then post them for us to watch. ROB

 

[sthrngold07]

Bio-Proffesor,It's now outta the house and I do intend on getting it looked at by a PRO not someone that thinks they know what they're doing.Just fer the hell of it I'll say that I am 35yrs old and it's been with 'me' for the past 3 yrs I guess and was up in his old barn n a crate for as far as I'm concerned it was there since found.Just thought I'd throw that in.BTW,who would I speak to about this,I sures the hell don't want a slew of cops and bombsquad flying in and scaring the s*** outta me or anybody else around here,how do I tell them what I think it is without them going haywire??Cops round here are already crazy enough!lol

 

[EDDE]

when they dispose of it LIVE or NOT do they bill you ??
also tell them use a big hammer the small one didn't work

 

[BioProfessor]

Seriously, I don't think many of us are willing to ask you questions about marks and such that would make you handle the shell. If someone asks you if there are "such and such" on the bottom, they know you will have to handle it to find out. I (and others as well) won't go there. Once it is disarmed, you will get the requests to look for marks and such, measure this or that, to get you a positive ID. Until then, it will pretty much hands off. IMHO

I really don't know how to get you in touch with someone that can handle it safely unless it is the Bomb Squad and they may evacuate the neighborhood. The only person I can think of that wouldn't cause all these issues would be a current or former Bomb Disposal person in the military qualified to handle it. Even with that, if it did explode, YOU would be liable for any damage or death caused by the shell. Not a good place to be. I wish I had the "magic" answer but I don't.

Daryl

 

[Angelo]

Some information at this site that may help.

http://www.hq.usace.army.mil/cepa/pubs/apr01/story6.htm

Tony

 

[EDDE]

Cops will probably confiscate the thing and blow it up. Maybe you can contact the military and ask them about disarming it? Do you live near a military base? Where are you located (state), if I may ask? There are plenty of CW collectors who may give you a contact list.

better yet how about some more pictures
lots of people know these things better then a end picture and a side view
are there any marks on the bottom ?

 

[Montana Jim]

Take lottsa pics and post 'em if they do fly in with choppers and bomb suits... that'll be cool.

TT - The military EOD will do the same thing... it'll be destroyed... and prolly for the best... take lottsa pics and document everything... it'll be like you still have it with you.

Look... I guess the question is "safety" vs. "memories".

 

[BioProfessor]

Come on guys. Are you REALLY asking him to handle it MORE? Take it outside. Take pictures. Spin it around. Turn it upside down. Scratch around on it.

Holy crap.

Daryl

 

[Angelo]

More Pictures?

Check closely for markings?

Why not juggle it?

Throw it like a football?

Not me! I'd get it as far away from family and call the proper people.

Tony

 

[Montana Jim]

I didn't ask him to do that. By all means NO - do NOT handle it more... Take pics of the "event" of ord disposal doing their thing...

Hey, maybe they can contain the fragments for you, and you can rebuild most of it... collectors still like fragments...

 

[EDDE]

since your in SC i would guess its a solid shot sabot round minus the brass/wood sleeve

 

[EDDE]

how much does it weigh ?