2nd hispano round

[zodiacdave]

When I found this near St Vith, Ardennes, I knew what it was and placed it 2-3 inches deep under a tree near a highway, marked the tree and informed the authorities. I stayed in the area untill it was picked up. Let me stress that I am not looking for this stuff, I look for relics, history from this era which I have found a lot of and I will post on this forum when allowed. I have posted these items to show fellow detectors how dangerous things could be when you have little knowledge, like myself. Please, please please, anything you are not sure of, leave well alone.

[merkle]

Hi, Nice find... But word of warning.. it looks like a 20mm Hispano round, and the reason it has a brass cap , is because it is of the EXPLOSIVE HEAD type, GULP.. I have found them on the surface of a hawker hurricane crash site,, and was told by a couple of fellow archaeologist to bury it as fast as i found it, as the iron/steel casing tends to dry out, and crack, seeping explosive, and potencially lethal, or could at least result in a very nasty wound ..

there are 20 mm without the brass cap on the top, these are normally solid shot, and are not dangerous, but brass tipped ones, I personally have been told leave well alone ..

Just trying to help

Cheers
Chris C

[Mick]

Hi Dave

Id really be interested to see some of your stuff you have found around the Ardennes and look forward to your posts.

[RRPG]

there are 20 mm without the brass cap on the top, these are normally solid shot, and are not dangerous, but brass tipped ones, I personally have been told leave well alone ..

Sorry for dragging back an older thread but this one worried me a little so I need to clarify something.

Just because a 20mm round does not have a brass nose cap, does NOT mean that it is solid shot. There are such things as 'base detonating' 20mm rounds, which carried the fuse in the base of the projectile. Not only that, but some incendiary rounds also have no brass nose. Lastly, I have dug a number of 20mm projectiles and, especially on beaches, the rust concretion that forms often covers the tip of the projectile, making it all look 'solid'. Closer inspection shows there to be brass heads under the concretion.

If you find a 20mm projectile please please PLEASE do not be tempted to take it home with you. Only just recently a relic hunter in the UK got a ride in an air ambulance when he took a 20mm head home, got it in his garage and then discovered why you shouldn't mess with things you can't be sure of. He thought it was solid shot.....found out the hard way it wasn't.

Think of them ALL, regardless as to whether they have a brass nose or not, as small but very annoyed grenades. Even so called 'practice' rounds usually have a small charge in them so their impact can be observed.

Take care with 20mm ! If you can't be 100% sure it's solid, leave it alone and call the authorities.

RRPG

[Chopper]

Solid advice mate