What are the Holes For? Help Me with Solving a Metal Detecting Mystery

[@dylantrinder1571]

Could the 'drilled' cases be a primary or starter cartridge designed to set off a secondary projectile?

[@WesternEclectic]

Hi Dylan, interesting idea! I hadn't thought of that... It would definitely make sense for why the holes are there.

[@WesternEclectic]

Mystery solved! You're exactly right, these are almost certainly igniters for artillery shells (this explains why I haven't been able to match these to any known rifle cartridge dimensions). Thanks to you, F.K. Burnham, and Mike Gustafson (who was able to get input on this from Ron Spomer!), I got an answer to a question I've had for almost three years. Once I knew what to look for, I found this thread: forum.cartridgecollectors.org/t/rfi-rod-in-middle-of-brass-shell-casing/32875 If you scroll through and look at the photos, it's pretty obvious my "cartridges" are actually igniters. Of course, how in the world they got to where I found them is an entirely different mystery, but I'm just happy to finally identify them. Thanks again to you and the other commenters who provided input for helping to figure this out!

[@6stringgunner511]

Awesome video!!! Thanks!!! Have a great week and be safe out there.

[@WesternEclectic]

Thanks! As always, great to hear from you, and I hope you're staying safe too.

[@tysadventures1]

Awesome video!!!!

[@f.k.burnham8491]

The pieces with the holes could be part of an inside of an artillery shell. I have an artillery casing that has an attached center piece with holes like that in it. If you found those by an old fort on the Columbia, all of those could well be from Coastal Defense Artillery. Likely part of the primers for the different caliber shells. You would have to contact an artillery historian to be 100% sure. I am certain they were neither rifle or pistol cartridges.

[@WesternEclectic]

Thank you for your insights on this; after hearing from you and another commenter it makes a lot of sense to me that the long casings with the holes were the ignitor portions of larger artillery shells. It would certainly explain 1) why I haven't been able to match these casings to any known rifle cartridge dimensions, and more significantly 2) why the holes are there. In addition, it would go along with the military aspects of the other finds. As to how they ended up where I found them (I wasn't very close to any old forts as far as I know), who knows? Anyway, thanks again for taking the time to comment and explain this. Oftentimes half the fun of metal detecting is just figuring out what the heck you've found! Take care.

[@TedSeeber]

Looks like the metal pieces of an antique drip irrigation system where the hose has rotten away. The big ones might have built-in silencers.

[@WesternEclectic]

That's exactly what I thought when I first dug up one of the drilled cartridges! I initially assumed it was some sort of irrigation part (it's common to find old brass sprinkler pieces when metal detecting). But when I got it home and cleaned it up a bit more I could see the primer, which pretty much leave no doubt as to it being some sort of cartridge casing. Anyhow, thanks for checking in Theodore; nice to hear from you again and stay healthy!

[@6stringgunner511]

Were they experimental AMMO???

[@WesternEclectic]

Hmm... Maybe. I'm still stumped! 🤔

[@gus473]

👍 Yes, quite a mystery! And no help from me, unfortunately! Yet I hope you're going to post the answer when it comes! Thanks & be well! 😷😎

[@WesternEclectic]

Thanks Mike! I will definitely post an answer when it comes. Take care! 🙂

[@gus473]

@@WesternEclectic I sent a link for your video to the well-known outdoors and gun expert, Ron Spomer! His take, in an email to me: "[B]etting they were igniters for a cannon charge. Makes sense. Primer ignites relatively fast burning powder (FFFG?) in the case. It burns and jet out the holes to ignite the heavier charge of coarse black powder around it." Likely I would bet with Mr. Spomer!

[@WesternEclectic]

@@gus473 Hi Mike, wow, thanks for checking in with him! That's really cool and it's neat he took the time to look into this and get back to you so quickly. Awesome! And I am now certain he's right: Based on the suggestion you received from his as well as what a couple other commenters posted, I just found this link: forum.cartridgecollectors.org/t/rfi-rod-in-middle-of-brass-shell-casing/32875 Once I knew what to look for it all started making sense. The photos in this thread aren't exact matches, but are obviously quite similar. A nearly three-year mystery solved in less than 24 hours of posting a KZbin video about it. This makes my day! Thanks so much, Mike, to you and Mr. Spomer. Stay healty and take care!

[@gus473]

@@WesternEclectic Thank you, my pleasure! Ron Spomer is a great guy and very knowledgeable about this sort of thing! And who doesn't love a good mystery! Just wish there could have been some pirates in the story too! Oh well! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯