'Tube' ID. (ID'd as Large gun cleaning rod).

[MilitaryMetalMagnut]

Hi all,

Today I found an Aluminium tube, I found it in an area of high military presence which I highly suspect it to be military.
It measures exactly on the dot 30 inches long, 19mm wide (20mm wide at the 'eyelet' end) Bore 8.16mm diameter. 'Eyelet' slot is exactly 50mm long and exactly 10mm wide. No markings anywhere. Seems quite precisely made!

There is a hole in the base of the iron end, but it doesn't want to upload that pic, for some reason!









Many thanks

Simon

[Butty]

Reminds me of a fire hydrant key.
There would be a leverage bar living down the centre hole and screwed to the top section to stop it coming loose.
Bar is passed through slot and used to turn iron end screw into something.
Perhaps used to dismantle a vehicle part or artillery?

[Martin B]

Looks like part of a 'pull-through' for a heavy weapon of some type. Wadding would be fed through the oblong opening to swab out the barrel. That said, i'd have expected a thread at the other end to attach more rods to. The hole in the iron end could be for passing a pulling cord through.

Ive only ever used them up to .50 cal! This looks a tad big for that!

EDIT - Just spotted last pic with the thread on the iron end!

[MilitaryMetalMagnut]

Cannon cleaning rod, didn't think of that!

On the area I found it, I know they used tanks and 3.7 inch guns there in WW2 (I recently found out the Royal Artillery were there in 1939). So that would tie in well. The site has been in use since the war, though (used mortars, M20 bazooka rockets and Charlie G recoilless rifle).
It's quite a hefty piece!

[sweepstick47]

I'm with 'Martin B' on this one. It looks as though it could well be a cleaning rod for an Artillery piece. We've got a few 'Gunners' on here so perhaps a full ID will follow. Regards ss47

[Wansdyke44]

Yes it is a push rod from a cleaning kit. Post WW2.