WW2 finds - It's been a while! - Pic heavy

[RRPG]

Hi all

Due to lots of life changes last year, I've not been out and about much but did manage a few relic recovery trips. Thought it about time I got back on the horse, so here are a few items I recovered last year from an old RAOC depot.

A nice haul from one visit to this site, where they disposed of unwanted ordnance at the end of WW2.

You can find a full report on the finds on my blog posts.

https://stephentaylorhistorian.com/2019 ... w2-relics/

https://stephentaylorhistorian.com/2019 ... -take-two/

All items are completely free from any explosive compounds and are perfectly legal to possess.



Bottoms from 40mm Bofors shells












Big chunk of drive band from a 40mm shell, booster tube from the same, and a 20mm Oerlikon cartridge case




Headstamp on the 20mm




Spigot mortar drill round with a brass cap. Never seen one with this brass cap before!




No. 3 fuzes from Mk V British anti-tank mine














Remains of a No. 211 fuze




Transport cap/fuze well protector from a 25pdr artillery shell




Couple of General Service buttons




Buckle from a Mk 7 respirator bag




Another 20mm Oerlikon




303 cartridge case and blanks




Headstamps (most barely visible unfortunately)





303 drill rounds




Headstamps (most barely visible unfortunately), and lack of blast cap




PIAT fuze holders and drill fuzes




They even say 'DRILL' on them!





Not a bad day out really. More days out this year, deffo!

RRPG

[Dave The Slave]

Great write up with photos and explanations.
Nearest I get are 303 cases. The 2 I found this week, stood in vinegar overnight to be able to identify the headstamps, a 1937 RL and a 1944 K2.
Still got last seasons to clean up. Not hedge fodder to me, all Historical and interesting.
Anymore Series of WW2 treasure Hunters in the pipe line ? very interesting and informative.
Cheers,
Dave.

[RRPG]

It never ceases to amaze me how totally different we all are in our ways how we see what is collectable, worth doing, or even like doing.
Honestly I can`t get my head around it. That lot would have been in the hedge at the side of the field had I have come across it in my classification as "hedge Fodder".

Funny you should say that, but any Roman, medieval and all stuff older than WW2 goes back in the hole from whence it came when I'm digging. Not in the slightest bit interested in it.

[Dave8472]

It never ceases to amaze me how totally different we all are in our ways how we see what is collectable, worth doing, or even like doing.
Honestly I can`t get my head around it. That lot would have been in the hedge at the side of the field had I have come across it in my classification as "hedge Fodder".
It seems to be a great deal of hard work to just find lots of bits n bobs of old 2nd WW junk
But ,has to come under as ,horses for courses I guess.

However on a more positive side to me. Absolutely stunningly superb photo`s

That’s why we have an Ordnance and related sub forum for people to share their finds and interests. There are many aspects of history, that includes this period.

Best thing to do is scroll past anything you don’t like rather than be critical of another’s post

The forum is for everyone

Dave

[Dave8472]

Funny you should say that, but any Roman, medieval and all stuff older than WW2 goes back in the hole from whence it came when I'm digging. Not in the slightest bit interested in it.

I will swap you for 50 cals Stephen

Nice post mate

Dave

[MilitaryMetalMagnut]

Marvellous, well excavated, matey.

Best regards,

Simon

[littleboot]

I can't see anything in Bors' post which was derogatory in any way. Just an honest observation. I can't see the harm in it...should we only comment on things we like or understand? Surely by discussing things we reach a better understanding?

I must say I don't really 'get' the attraction of ammo. I suspect that is because there is so much of it in normandy...and a lot of it is dangerous. When i find any i tend to move on. On Friday afternoon i visited a permission where i had already been warned a spitfire had been involved in a fight with an emplacement. I was kind of wary of digging ammo related mince but persisted because the village has medieval origins (one of William's right hand looters....sorry.... knights....came from there).
I spent two hours digging spent spitfire cartridges (don't know the tech term for sure but the bit the bullet goes in) ...ordinary bullet sized. They were in two lines across the field plus some really stonking one about an inch in diameter.
Not a bit of use to me...they went in the hedge. No use to the Spitfire pilot either because he was shot down in the exchange and crashed 3 miles away....sadly dying. i find it rather chilling and sombre to find WWII stuff.
All the same it is history and I can see people are enthusiastic about it. I would never know what most of these things were without explanation.

[detecting rod]

great collection,i think it would be such a waste to chuck it into a hedge ,kids grand kids would like to see the history

[beep-and-dig]

Nice to see you back in the saddle RRPG, love reading your posts, and looking at your super
pictures.

[Pete E]

I spent two hours digging spent spitfire cartridges (don't know the tech term for sure but the bit the bullet goes in) ...ordinary bullet sized.

It's termed the "cartridge case", or just "case".

If you want to spark a heated discussion, go onto an American shooting forum and ask what the pointy lead bits are called.

Some will say it's a "bullet", others will say a bullet is fact the whole round..I generally refer to them as "bullet heads" or just "heads", but I've been pulled over that too! Lol

[Oxgirl36]

I have a site that contains a WW2 practise shooting range and you could happily fill your boots if you like. There’s all sorts there but I avoid the whole area. If you want to come and clear the ammo so I can get to the older stuff (which I know is there) then it’ll be a win-win.

Bullets and such stuff scare the living daylights out of me if I’m honest. Irrational I know

[RRPG]

I have to say I've never heard of a complete round being called a bullet.

I have done a nice blog about this very subject as the one that really gets me going is the one you've used.....bullet head. Grrrrrrr! (Don't worry......no massive spat coming from me. Life is too short!)

If you would like the definitive answer though, look here.....

https://stephentaylorhistorian.com/2017 ... ification/



RRPG

[RRPG]

I have a site that contains a WW2 practise shooting range and you could happily fill your boots if you like. There’s all sorts there but I avoid the whole area. If you want to come and clear the ammo so I can get to the older stuff (which I know is there) then it’ll be a win-win.

Bullets and such stuff scare the living daylights out of me if I’m honest. Irrational I know

Would love to Oxgirl. In fact, I already perform the task of clearing WW2 stuff so people can find the older stuff beneath it on a couple of different sites!



RRPG

[Pete E]

I have to say I've never heard of a complete round being called a bullet..
RRPG

You a lived a very sheltered life then! lol. Think about how many times you've heard none shooters ask things like "How many bullets does that gun hold?" ect?? That's why I use the term bullet head to emphasise I don't mean the whole round...obviously if I know somebody is a collector or reloader I tend to be more prescise with the terminology...

In a similar vein, (and I sure it's a local thing), many people around here will refer to .22lr rifle as "22 bullet gun" and that grates like finger nails on a blackboard lol

[MilitaryMetalMagnut]

It's termed the "cartridge case", or just "case".

If you want to spark a heated discussion, go onto an American shooting forum and ask what the pointy lead bits are called.

Some will say it's a "bullet", others will say a bullet is fact the whole round..I generally refer to them as "bullet heads" or just "heads", but I've been pulled over that too! Lol

I see some of them call the bullet a ‘pill’, and the primer a ‘bang button’! Got to love American humour.

Simon