1609

75 MM CUTAWAY SHRAPNEL ROUND FOR FRENCH &

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:125.00 USD Estimated At:250.00 - 400.00 USD
75 MM CUTAWAY SHRAPNEL ROUND FOR FRENCH &
U.S. WWI ARTILLERY. Consignor states that the shell was presented to an executive of American Can Company. Shell is standard shrapnel loaded w/ approx. 290 lead balls. Ideally these would burst high above the ground & over the heads of enemy troops. Early in WWI, the shrapnel shell was the predominant type of ammo. for the French 75mm artillery piece, but by the end of the war, high explosive shells superceded almost all other ammo. types. The shrapnel shell was named for its developer; Lt. General Sir Henry Shrapnel. The term "shrapnel" has come to mean almost any type of fragmentation. The projectile is 75mm in diameter. The brass shell casing is 15 1/8" long. The overall length of the rd. is 24 1/2". The shell marked on the base w/ "1-22-17" "GL" "No. 73 M" & boxed "PN". Shell has fitted wooden case w/ brass colored reinforced corners. Brown finished case measures 26 1/2" x 7" x 6 3/4". Case has wear, scratches & hobby craftsman type workmanship. CONDITION: very nicely done cutaway showing all aspects of case & shell including the lead ball filling & details of the fuse. Shell has highly polished finish w/ scattered handling marks & peppery spots of oxidation. (02-15289/RW). $250-400.