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Wide open 18 pounder

S

SHAKY

Well-Known Member
Heres's a projectile thats been sitting at a friends holding some bayonets for a long time. I think I weaseled it out of him but I had to try and figure it out. Seems as far as I got with identifying it was it some kind of 18 pdr? The diameter is about 83.2mm, and a length of 237mm. It flanges out to a wide open top with an outside diameter of 90mm. I really dont know but it seems too thick to me for a cannister shot of some sort.Im sure someone will know. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated. SHAKY.artillery 014.jpgartillery 015.jpgartillery 016.jpgartillery 017.jpg
 
It has the look of a shrapnel, but somebody has altered the top of it no threads etc, I don't know how you could flare one out like that without it splitting without a lot of heat ? It certainly wouldn't get far up the tube like that !

OR it is unfinished and at some point in the manufacture they look like this ? the top isn't formed & trimmed etc and the threads not cut yet - I rather favour this argument. The band hasn't been pressed on yet as opposed to being lost. If there are no inspection marks then I would go with partially made and not finished. Now it's a matter of rejected and or souvenired !
 
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I also thought of unfinished but it seems so thick all the way down inside compared to my shrapnel 18 pdr. I can undrestand that to finish the machining on the outside top would bring its dimensions down to where it would match the shrapnel shell size but the outide below this flare is already at 83.2mm or so and it would still be thicker than usual and would they machine that far inside? The inside base sure looks identical to the shrapnel. The inside diameter of the opening is 76.1mm and the shrapnel Ive got has an inside dia. of 61.1mm. Seems an interesting way of manufacture to have to bring it back down in size to meet a 61mm dimension. As you said, it would be black magic to get this projectile down the tube. Interesting glimpse somewhere along the manufacturing process? Thanks, SHAKY
 
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