I found the below item hidden in the basement of an old house I recently purchased. I'd appreciate any insights as to what it is and if it is dangerous. Thank you in advance!
I'm in not exactly an expert on identifying shells but first that is a neat find, however it might be an unexploded shell, if so you might want to be very careful about that. The chances of it being one might be low, but be a little on the cautious side since it still looks like it is intact. Someone will definitely be able to help you with identifying it. Definitely handle it with care.
That has a chance of being live, unexploded ordnance, so handle with infinite care. That is definitely a German shell and I've seen it before, just can't find the name.
Thanks for your replies. Any thoughts on where to take this shell to determine whether or not it is live? I live in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
You need to show something that will provide reference as to its size to, such as a ruler placed alongside it to show diameter and length. It looks like it is probably around a 105mm shell, but have now way of knowing from the photo. Is there any writing on it? Does it feel hollow? Makes me wonder if an explosive is still in it, which would be of paramount concern.
I believe the shell is about 10 inches tall. I will measure tonight. And it is VERY heavy. At least 10-15 pounds. It is definitely not hollow. It almost seems like it is the "bullet" to what was a much larger shell.
To echo the sentiment of others, my first advice is to leave it alone until you get someone to confirm that it is inert. Since you found it in a basement in Minneapolis, it probably is an inert war souvenir, but I wouldn't bet my life on it. Check with your local police department. Avoid using words like "bomb" or "explosive". Just tell them you found what you believe is a war souvenir in your basement and want to make sure it has been made safe. They'll let you know who to contact.
Okay guys. Here is some more information: the shell is approximately 27.5 centimeters long, 9 centimeters wide (at the base), 28 centimeters around the shell and weighs 23.2 pounds. I attached a close up of the bottom of the shell. Looks like it is solid metal. Any thoughts on origin and if live would be appreciated. Thanks.
Seriously. Stop handling it. Contact the authorities. Nobody ever got in trouble for reporting a legitimately found dodgy thing. People do get killed & maimed by this stuff. Still. Anonymous strangers on the Internet are really not the people to ask in relation to potential unexploded ordnance with an unknown history.
Good advice VP. This is getting me a little nervous. Gopher1, right now its best to listen to what VP is saying. We should worry about the details about the shell, such as its origin and who used it, later. Someone will surely help you with that once everything is okay.
Thanks for your concern. I had the local police department take a look at the shell. They said it is safe (and had been fired). As stated in my initial email, this appears to be an armor piercing round given its weight. Specific measurements are above. If anyone has thoughts on its origin, I would be grateful! Thank you.
To me it looks like a 90mm APT round used on tank ranges for target practice. The hole in the bottom held the tracer element to see where the shot went.
Interesting. Thank you. I'm a novice at this. What does APT stand for? Was this used by the US military? Appreciate your help!
IF it is approximately 90mm it could also be an 88mm round. You might poke around on this site (I can't seem to get to it right now though). Tony's and expert in this and I think he's got his own forums although they concentrate on cases I believe: http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk/
The police that looked at it, was it just a doughnut eating desk sergeant that didn't really want to be bothered by you or an EOD type trained expert? If the local yokels don't have a Tactical Unit or an EOD unit, the state or county authorities do. Seriously, get an expert opinion on it before you have a Port Chicago incident in your house.
