Ice Tiger Posted 4 September , 2007 Share Posted 4 September , 2007 Recently aquired for the grand sum of £8 Who can tell me about it? Markings on the bottom: 6PR III 56 RL CF L 1917 Markings on the solid steel projectile: 1 6PDR N 64 P C9 RSJ 5.10.17 and a couple of small circular marks I can't decipher. All info gratefuly received Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ice Tiger Posted 5 September , 2007 Author Share Posted 5 September , 2007 I'm amazed! Over 50 pals have had a look at this thread & yet no one can tell me: What the markings mean? What/who would have fired it? Why the solid steel projectile? Can it realy be no one can tell me about this shell Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torrey McLean Posted 5 September , 2007 Share Posted 5 September , 2007 Hello, Andy - It's a British 6-pounder shell manufactured in 1917 - a nice example of the type of round fired by the naval 6-pounder guns in British "male" tanks. What else do you want to know about it? Regards, Torrey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torrey McLean Posted 5 September , 2007 Share Posted 5 September , 2007 Andy - I forgot to mention that "RL" indicates manufacture at Royal Laboratories at Woolich, and "CF" indicates that it was loaded with a full charge. Check the bottom of the steel projectile for a base fuse. [if you see one. be careful to confirm that it has been properly deactivated!] What else do you want to know? Regards, Torrey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thegreatwar Posted 5 September , 2007 Share Posted 5 September , 2007 Its unfired (projectile), as the drive band is still intact. Makes it a bit more rare as, probably, the shell case and round are one unit. If the round had been fired, (riflings on the drive band) chances are they are a mis-match, ie put together at random. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ice Tiger Posted 5 September , 2007 Author Share Posted 5 September , 2007 Check the bottom of the steel projectile for a base fuse. [if you see one. be careful to confirm that it has been properly deactivated!] Torrey Thanks for that. Unfortunatly I can't check the bottom of the projectile, It's stuck firm in the shell. Looking at the base of the shell though, It has been fired. I got it from a boot sale & took it to be a put together item for display. Going by what you say, am I to believe that there would have been an explosive charge in the steel projectile. If so why is it steel & not cast iron? Sorry to appear so uneducated on this Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce Posted 5 September , 2007 Share Posted 5 September , 2007 Andy I have logged into this thread three times....dying to find out too! I'd help...if I had a clue! Bruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thegreatwar Posted 5 September , 2007 Share Posted 5 September , 2007 Torrey Thanks for that. Unfortunatly I can't check the bottom of the projectile, It's stuck firm in the shell. Looking at the base of the shell though, It has been fired. I got it from a boot sale & took it to be a put together item for display. Going by what you say, am I to believe that there would have been an explosive charge in the steel projectile. If so why is it steel & not cast iron? Sorry to appear so uneducated on this Andy Obviously it is a mis-match then. The projectile put with a different case. Steel offered the luxury of being mass produced, cheap and when exploded, the shrapnel edges were sharper. This was due to the fact it was a thinner metal and heated at a better temperature (glowed white hot and crisp edges). Cast iron was expensive to make, heavy (so didn't travel as far) and took more explosive to fragment it. It also had dull edges when exploded. Therefore wasn't deemed suitable for all occassions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyE Posted 5 September , 2007 Share Posted 5 September , 2007 I thought one of the big gun buffs might have answered by now, but as no-one has, markings are: 6 Pdr. III 6 Pounder Mark III gun (as prev.posted, Naval gun used in male tank) 56 Probably Lot Number RL Made at Royal laboratory Woolwich CF Cordite Full charge L Probably Land service 1917 Date Shell 6 Pdr N 6 pounder, N indicates Naval RSJ Manufactured by Ransome, Sims & Jeffries, Ipswich 5.10.17 Date It looks like a Common Pointed steel shot, which would have hasd a small bursting charge in the shell and would have been base fused. Regards TonyE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce Posted 5 September , 2007 Share Posted 5 September , 2007 Wow! Now I am both older and wiser! Bruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ice Tiger Posted 5 September , 2007 Author Share Posted 5 September , 2007 Thanks Pals At last I now know all I need to about this shell & projectile! Glad I spent the £8 on it now! Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ice Tiger Posted 5 September , 2007 Author Share Posted 5 September , 2007 Bruce That makes two of us Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thegreatwar Posted 5 September , 2007 Share Posted 5 September , 2007 Thanks Pals Glad I spent the £8 on it now! Andy That will be the best £8 you will ever spend. Excellent bargain! Well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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