Artillery shell or what?

Lenrac2

Silver Member
Apr 1, 2021
2,758
6,371
Illinois
πŸ† Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
Denise-Nokta Legend/Garrett Apex Nox600
Bob-AT Max/ Nox800
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
So we dug this up at the old farm field today. It is 7 inches long about 56-58 mm across and is hollow up to about 3-4 inches in the bottom. It weighs 5 lbs. 13.3 oz. with whatever is in it (probably dirt but I'm not comfortable poking around in it). Is this a shell? If not, any ideas? Is it safe if hollowish? I'm sure the plow has been knocking it around for years. Sorry for crap pics, it's dark out and don't want to bring it in. Thank you for your thoughts.
 

Attachments

  • 20230206_192636.jpg
    20230206_192636.jpg
    559.4 KB · Views: 94
  • 20230206_192148.jpg
    20230206_192148.jpg
    891.8 KB · Views: 70
Upvote 5

Digger RJ

Gold Member
Aug 24, 2017
19,263
33,375
SW Missouri/Oklahoma
πŸ₯‡ Banner finds
1
πŸ† Honorable Mentions:
2
Detector(s) used
Minelab CTX 3030; Minelab Equinox 800;
XP Deus 2
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
So we dug this up at the old farm field today. It is 7 inches long about 56-58 mm across and is hollow up to about 3-4 inches in the bottom. It weighs 5 lbs. 13.3 oz. with whatever is in it (probably dirt but I'm not comfortable poking around in it). Is this a shell? If not, any ideas? Is it safe if hollowish? I'm sure the plow has been knocking it around for years. Sorry for crap pics, it's dark out and don't want to bring it in. Thank you for your thoughts.
Nice!!! Congrats!!!
 

UnderMiner

Silver Member
Jul 27, 2014
3,764
9,567
New York City
πŸ₯‡ Banner finds
2
Detector(s) used
Minelab Excalibur II, Ace 250
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
It's definetly an artillery shell. The copper driving band on the bottom doesn't show any rifling scars which indicates it's never been fired.
 

OP
OP
L

Lenrac2

Silver Member
Apr 1, 2021
2,758
6,371
Illinois
πŸ† Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
Denise-Nokta Legend/Garrett Apex Nox600
Bob-AT Max/ Nox800
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
It's definetly an artillery shell. The copper driving band on the bottom doesn't show any rifling scars which indicates it's never been fired.
Thank you! So dangerous or no?
 

OP
OP
L

Lenrac2

Silver Member
Apr 1, 2021
2,758
6,371
Illinois
πŸ† Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
Denise-Nokta Legend/Garrett Apex Nox600
Bob-AT Max/ Nox800
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
It's definetly an artillery shell. The copper driving band on the bottom doesn't show any rifling scars which indicates it's never been fired.
Also, any idea on age? Thank you.
 

oldmxrat

Silver Member
Oct 25, 2020
4,834
16,108
Reno Nevada summers, Las Vegas winters
πŸ₯‡ Banner finds
1
πŸ† Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
Garrett ACE 400, Nokta Simplex+, Nokta Legend, Nokta Accupoint
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
I'm thinking it's a piston from a hydraulic cylinder. The grooves would have had seals. It looks like a tubular piece has broke off from the opening which would have been the ram.
Just my opinion.
 

OP
OP
L

Lenrac2

Silver Member
Apr 1, 2021
2,758
6,371
Illinois
πŸ† Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
Denise-Nokta Legend/Garrett Apex Nox600
Bob-AT Max/ Nox800
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Going to need some more pictures. Are there any markings? Is there a conical brass fuse on the top?
So getting it out again it is definitely an artillery shell. Printing on a band is "FMT-E?-1-44-57mm M86". WWII I guess. So is it safe or no? Hollow to about 4 inches but still don't want to poke around without knowing.
 

Attachments

  • 20230207_112008.jpg
    20230207_112008.jpg
    1.3 MB · Views: 15
  • 20230207_112032.jpg
    20230207_112032.jpg
    1.2 MB · Views: 17
  • 20230207_112106.jpg
    20230207_112106.jpg
    1.1 MB · Views: 14
  • 20230207_112146.jpg
    20230207_112146.jpg
    788.2 KB · Views: 19
OP
OP
L

Lenrac2

Silver Member
Apr 1, 2021
2,758
6,371
Illinois
πŸ† Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
Denise-Nokta Legend/Garrett Apex Nox600
Bob-AT Max/ Nox800
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
I'm thinking it's a piston from a hydraulic cylinder. The grooves would have had seals. It looks like a tubular piece has broke off from the opening which would have been the ram.
Just my opinion.
I appreciate your input! After looking at it closer, it is an artillery shell. It's not what we were expecting or wanting to find in a farm field.
 

UnderMiner

Silver Member
Jul 27, 2014
3,764
9,567
New York City
πŸ₯‡ Banner finds
2
Detector(s) used
Minelab Excalibur II, Ace 250
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
So getting it out again it is definitely an artillery shell. Printing on a band is "FMT-E?-1-44-57mm M86". WWII I guess. So is it safe or no? Hollow to about 4 inches but still don't want to poke around without knowing.

This is a 57mm M86 artillery shell made in 1944. I'm sure one of the artillery shell experts on here can tell you more. I can't say if it's still live or not but it's always better to assume it is. These shells were often filled with explosives like TNT or similar which become more sensitive to detonation as time goes by.

The M1 57MM anti-tank gun pictured here used that round:
GUN-57-MM-Historic-5.jpg
 

OP
OP
L

Lenrac2

Silver Member
Apr 1, 2021
2,758
6,371
Illinois
πŸ† Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
Denise-Nokta Legend/Garrett Apex Nox600
Bob-AT Max/ Nox800
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
This is a 57mm M86 artillery shell made in 1944. I'm sure one of the artillery shell experts on here can tell you more. I can't say if it's still live or not but it's always better to assume it is. These shells were often filled with explosives like TNT or similar which become more sensitive to detonation as time goes by.

The M1 57MM anti-tank gun pictured here used that round:
View attachment 2068471
Thanks for your help! Thats a huge gun! I hope an expert weighs in. We really don't want to deal with a bomb squad. And insurance likely won't cover an "accident". πŸ™‚. Definitely ain't coming in the house.
 

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Top