Trench art question

[mark k]

My friend showed me a piece of trench are his Great Grandfather brought home from WW1. It looks like a miniature coal shuttle built from artillery components. He's curious what the casing was from. Any ideas based on these stampings?

 

[RRCo.]

Hard to see much in your photo but the "FN" in a circle could be Fabrique Nationale of Belgium and FN FAL fame.

 

[sunray]

Yep. Can't tell much of anything from that picture. Need a full on clear picture.

 

[Juster]

Driving band looks like this:

Not sure what round that is, maybe M1917 British 18-Pounder Shrapnel Shell.

 

[smellie]

1. Get a clear photo, straight-on, side and base.

2. Measure the outside diameter of the knobby copper belt; this gives you the groove diameter of the piece from which it was fired.

3. Measure across the copper belt again, this time from bottom of indent to bottom of indent; this gives you the BORE diameter of the piece from which it was fired.

From this, it should be fairly easy to narrow it down to precisely what type of gun it was made for.

Other markings on the base should tell who made it, when it was made, perhaps what type it is, how many times it was reloaded and other interesting things.

Neat!