Is this shell likely to be dangerous?

Can anybody suggest whether this shell (see images) might have live expolosive within? It is approx 75mm diameter and 265mm long, and has rifling at the bottom. I suspect that it was retrieved from an SOE training area during WW2, and has been used for many years as a door stop at my grandmother's house.

If it is dangerous, who should I contact to dispose of it?


Thank you,

Archie

 

Archie

there is a link on here on what to do
a forum member will link it for you
leave it where it is for now


regards

Clive

 

It could be or not, get the experts to look at.
Let the police know on Monday, the uxb boys might be enjoying their weekend.
Police called to report of unexploded bomb in Blakeney

 

You cannot be too careful with munitions.
Like the above advice, report and let the experts take care of it.
Every time I was involved with the Army Ordnance Corps, they were quick to attend and assess the situation.

Regards
Tom

 

I agree. The issue is insurance liability, if it subsequently hurts someone/causes damage and you say "but X said it was OK" a hefty compensation lawsuit could result.

Possession of any ordnance without a Freedom From Explosives Certificate can be deemed unlawful. A commercial FFE cert. costs a fortune - imagine taking that business model to an insurer.

A random opinion - Solid shot - no fuse, no base plug. Has been fired. Shouldn't be a problem.
Dimple in base is likely for a tracer element. This may not be fully discharged so could constitute a danger.

As has been said, the only way to be sure is to have it checked. Unfortunately the AOC is more likely to take it away for the reasons above.

 

Several years ago my uncle was tidying up his allotment and found a shell under the bordering hedge. He put it in his wheel barrow and wheeled it to the pub to show his friends.
Fortunately sense finally prevailed and authorities were contacted and thankfully it was found to be some kind of thing used for training and wasn't dangerous.

In my pre-teen days I liked playing with a grenade my grandad had souvenired from somewhere during his war service. Clearly it contained nothing dangerous, but it was interesting to see how it worked. I always wished I could have it - but that might have proved interesting when my parents shipped the family and our belongings across the world to Australia.

 

agree as in post #7. appears to be solid shot, fired and no fuse, but never hurts to get opinion of experts

 

Looks a bit like 17pdr AP... though I'd have to go measure one of mine to be 100%... 17pdr is 76.2mm.

However, as everyone's said, if in doubt, call the bomb squad.

 

NB - If it is 17pdr AP and you don't want it... I'd be happy to have it for my Firefly.

 

Another line of enquiry is to ask on the British Ordnance Collectors Network (BOCN) forum.

 

As Archie has not been on here since 9th of Oct. he has either blown himself up or disposed of it correctly, shame he has not let us know.

 

I agree with your last comment. Always nice to know how things turn out but different people have different priorities which, while somewhat frustrating on occasions, is also understandable. There is a thread somewhere on this forum with a title along the lines of 'they arrive, enquire and then go away'. Hopefully the Forum gains in other ways....