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Unknown 20mm cartridge case

V

Vasco Da Gama

Well-Known Member
I am seeking to identify a 20mm case I acquired recently. The case is rimmed and 112.5mm long, rim diameter is 27.5mm, rim thickness is 4mm and the mouth approximately 19.5mm. The majority of the case is brass with a steel, brass washed base. The markings on the base are 1944, 20mm and H. The case is pictured below in the centre, alongside a 20mm Madsen and Hispano for comparison. The third photo is of the base, any suggestions as to the weapon it was made for?

Dad Uzbekistan 071.jpgDad Uzbekistan 072.jpgDad Uzbekistan 073.jpg
 
Most likely it is an experimental Lahti case (model L4, Finland). This case is known as a brass 20x112,8R27.3. Fits nicely with your measurement. However, yours is steel. Is the case magnetic? Maybe it is a brass case with some coating on the bottom (on the picture the case looks brass).

Your picture of the headstamp is unclear. It would help to see the marks. Anyway, I think it is a Finnish Lahti case.
 
Many thanks for your speedy response. The case is not magnetic either the body or the base. This would lead me to think that the base is not steel but some other alloy. I gently cleaned the base but in doing so noted that some of the brass wash came off to reveal further silver metal so I am sure that the case is not a pure brass case. I would suggest that the case is composite with a brass body and an alloy base.

I was moving towards a Lahti identification but I have little information on the various experimental rounds.
 
It could be an unfinished 20mm Hispano case. I got one a couple of years ago that looked exactly like your case. It had been soldered onto a brass base. When I heated it up and removed it from the base the solder residue looked just like the photo you show of the base.

Dave.
 
Definitely not a Finnish 20mm L-34 case. This case exists in 2 versions; 20x113R26 with rim diameter the same as hase end diameter, and 20x113R27,5 with belted case head. These cases exist with a couple of different headstamps but all marked with years 1934-1941. All made of one piece brass. Factory markings Tikkakoski, T, VKT and unmarked ones exist. Some rumors say that the belted one also exists with K for Kynoch but it has not been confirmed to be true.
None of the several different Lahti experimentals have rimmed head, just plain groove or belted.
 
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