UPDATE! See an Original Firing this! 1870s Hotchkiss Automatic 37MM Cannon Round

[steelheadwill]

Went out digging the mud again today,
got a tombac & an old cast pewter right off.
should have stuck to this spot, but decided to head up the beach while the water was down.
didn't get anything better, a button made from an IH cent, thought it was just an IH, till I saw the shankmark.
lots of other good sounding targets, including, of course, a hemweight.
as the sun was sinking & the water turning to slush, I dug this misfired round,
figured it was a fairly modern mortar projectile, my search IDs it as an 1870s
handcranked automatic cannon round. Great animation here, gears, drums, dogs, cams, designs still in use today, but in their infancy back then.

there is something rattling around inside the case.
Anyone got ideas on what the broken curved piece might be?
Sword carrier maybe
Best digs to all!

 

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[Woodland Detectors]

Re: Buttons.. And BIG 1879 French Round

If its the same piece you are talking about, I believe it to be an old seal Just bent backwards. Hard to see. It looks like the ones I have dug in the past

 

[hammered]

Re: Buttons.. And BIG 1879 French Round

Nice finds Herbie , what are the dimensions of the Hotchkiss round?, by the way it looks good .


hammered

 

[steelheadwill]

Re: Buttons.. And BIG 1879 French Round

Nice finds Herbie , what are the dimensions of the Hotchkiss round?, by the way it looks good .


hammered

Greetings Hammered,
the round is about 38 X 160 MM. 1-1/2 X 6-1/2 inches, and 2 pounds or so.
Thanks For your reply

 

[steelheadwill]

Re: Buttons.. And BIG 1879 French Round

If its the same piece you are talking about, I believe it to be an old seal Just bent backwards. Hard to see. It looks like the ones I have dug in the past

Thanks Mike, hope springs eternal

 

[civilman1]

Re: Buttons.. And BIG 1879 French Round

All kind's of cool stuff there.The shell and IH are nice That piece at the bottom(horizontal),is that piece of an old folding rule ? Nice dig's

 

[steelheadwill]

Re: Buttons.. And BIG 1879 French Round

All kind's of cool stuff there.The shell and IH are nice That piece at the bottom(horizontal),is that piece of an old folding rule ? Nice dig's

Thanks Civilman,
I believe it is, the wood came out of the mud supple as leather

 

[HISPAN]

Re: Buttons.. And BIG 1879 French Round

You live in Vietnam? .... many old ammunition.

 

[augusthog]

Re: Buttons.. And BIG 1879 French Round

Super Kewl Bullet!

 

[ModernMiner]

Re: Buttons.. And BIG 1879 French Round

Well done Herbie.
-Doug-

 

[jrsherman]

Re: Buttons.. And BIG 1879 French Round

Nice going Herbie, that round is awesome!

 

[hammered]

Re: Buttons.. And BIG 1879 French Round

I know nothing of these guns, but a great find Herbie , I would love to turn something like that up .

http://oldbritishguns.com/the-37mm-hotchkiss-revolving-cannon


hammered

 

[spitfire55]

Re: Buttons.. And BIG 1879 French Round

 

[steelheadwill]

Re: Buttons.. And BIG 1879 French Round

I know nothing of these guns, but a great find Herbie , I would love to turn something like that up .

http://oldbritishguns.com/the-37mm-hotchkiss-revolving-cannon


hammered

Thanks for the link Hammered!
Closest resemblence is to the explosive round.
I believe H.E. is unaffected by water
I'm gonna get my hammer and see what's inside there
this is better than a grenade
If I don't make any more posts you'll know things didn't go well
Just kidding, I removed the item from my home & advise anyone finding similar
to exercise caution, old explosive can be unstable.
Check out the wasteland in background of photo 2

 

[steelheadwill]

Re: Buttons.. And 1870s Automatic Cannon Round

It Went something like this faked video (just one round repeated, and smaller, later model)
with a lot more effect, the washer would be swiss cheese

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Re: Buttons.. And 1870s Automatic Cannon Round

Very interesting finds Herbie!
Could that old round actually still be live,
even after being in the water for so long?

 

[darkwing_66]

Re: Buttons.. And 1870s Automatic Cannon Round

killer little hothkiss congrats

 

[joeyfresh]

Re: Buttons.. And 1870s Automatic Cannon Round

Great finds Will! I really enjoy your posts.

 

[steelheadwill]

Re: Buttons.. And 1870s Automatic Cannon Round

Very interesting finds Herbie!
Could that old round actually still be live,
even after being in the water for so long?

Thanks All!
Hello Dave,
I'm not sure what qualified as 'High Explosive' in this era, In 1859 Charles Dupont invented Nitroglycerin, mixed it with clay to make Dynamite, adding wax or grease yielded a 'plastic/malleable' explosive, and probable made it somewhat water resistant. After making a huge fortune, he regretted the lives lost through his invention and started the 'Nobel Foundation' as his amends.
I usually don't excercise caution with old ammo, but holding this round & imagining the effects of it detonating convinced me, We are better safe than sorry

 

[steelheadwill]

Re: Buttons.. And 1870s Automatic Cannon Round

Great finds Will! I really enjoy your posts.

Welcome & thanks Joeyfresh!
Judging from your posts & Location, you'll be digging your Colonial items soon!
best Digs!