Solid Brass U.M.C. Co. 8 Gauge Shotgun Shell Casing

[mcl]

Finally got to go out and do some real hunting. Found some bottles I'll have to get IDed at some point, but here's something I found with the metal detector that gave me a real surprise.



It's a HUGE 8 GA shotgun shell casing made of solid brass. I had no idea such a thing existed. Stamped "U.M.C. Co. No. 8" on the bottom. Google says the company existed 1857-1911, which matches the date range for this spot perfectly.



Didn't have a 12 GA shell on hand so for comparison, here it is standing against a can of Diet Coke.



It's so big it almost fits over my entire middle finger.



-mcl

 

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[UnderMiner]

Love those old brass shotgun shells, great score!

Back in the day people sometimes made them into match holders.

 

[ScubaDetector]

Yep they made them. I have a 4 gauge around here somewhere. Just the brass bottom though. I would never shoot a 8 and a 4 had to be mounted to a boat. They made them for duck hunting. LOTS of ducks at once.

 

[trapperart]

Nice find congrats. The old market hunters used the 4s and 8s in this area

 

[cambria09]

Hello mcl. Nice find...never seen an 8 Gauge. I find shot shell head stamps all the time, some folks throw em out but I love digging them. Most are easy to date and help put time mark on the site.

Good Luck and thanks for the post. C9