Can someone please identify this for me? Thanks so much.

skybluey

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Upvote 0
Looks like a brass shotgun shell headstamp. But not 100%. Maybe a 410. I think I see those numbers on it.
 

Last edited:
Looks like the base of a spent shotgun shell! Or not?
 

Looks like a brass shotgun shell headstamp. But not 100%.

Auto correct thinks it's so smart...and yes I to vote for shot shell, can't tell gauge without a size reference. Looks like a fiber or felt base wad.
 

Auto correct thinks it's so smart...and yes I to vote for shot shell, can't tell gauge without a size reference. Looks like a fiber or felt base wad.

Haha you seen she'll before I edited it. :)
 

The 4 would indicate the gauge. It probably had a paper casing. The 4 gauge was a large bore shotgun sometimes called an "elephant gun" or "punt gun". Punt guns were used back in the depression for waterfowl hunting. Sport hunting was not a thing so much, but sustanance hunting and sale of wild birds was common. A punt gun could knock down many birds at one time, either in flight or on the water. Some were mounted to the bow of the boat, the recoil was so strong.
 

Hi updownup, I looked at a few pictures of shell headstamps online and this thing definitely looks like one of them. The only thing is, what looks like a 4 in the picture is actually (perhaps) some kind of symbol. It is not really a 4 but an x with a line ontop -- which makes it look like a sort of tv table (if you know what I mean). The 2 other marks are also symbols of some kind. Would that be usual for a headstamp? Thanks again.
 

hi Hughie, thanks for your reply. The shell base (if that's what it is) is about 1" across. The markings are symbols -- like rune symbols sort of. Certainly looks like a shell base though. Thanks.
 

hi toomany and thanks for this. Interesting! Everyone refers to the 4, but if the pic is blown up, it can be seen to be an 'x' with a straight line above which makes it look rather like a rune symbol or, if you like, a tv table. It's the symbols that intrigue me and would indicate something older than the depression. But I don't know what I'm talking about and you are probably right. Sits well with me. Thanks very much.
 

Hi Sonny and thanks for your reply. You're probably right -- i've looked at other pics now of spent shells and they certainly look similar. Mine has symbols on it which is different -- sort of rune-like -- which is actually the appeal of the thing. Thanks again.
 

hate those things, always sound good and tons of them from duck hunters here
 

Shotgun shell. I've found a to of them behind my house over the past 15 years. Don't even save them anymore.
 

thanks mnruxpin, this one is going right into the garbage.
 

thanks Lats, I'm not going to save this one now that I know what it is.
 

Most definitely a shell bottom
 

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