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WWI German Shell Casings
I was given two WWI shell casings that I was told were German. They are definitely WWI as they are dated. One is German as it has the imperial marks, the second does not have the imperial marks and the manufacturer is FN which I suspect is Belgian but possibly under German control
I don't have time for photos and not sure when I can get them up.
First shell is just under 23 cm tall with an opening of 7.5 cm. Base is rimmed, marked FN inside a circle, st. 96, JUNI 1917 and finally HL over 27.
Second shell is short, possibly cut but I don't know. 9.3 cm high, opening of 11 cm. Base is rimmed, marked 213, Sp255, NOV. 1915, PATRONENFABRIK KARLSRUHE, with two imperial ordnance stamps (small)
Any help pointing me in the right direction would be appreciated. I suspect the first is a 75 mm round of some type, the second I've seen a lot of photos that look similar but they were all 21 cm rounds. They were short, like this one but possibly also cut.
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There are some websites on line for identifying shell cases and head stamp info.
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Markings
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The website helped some. It shows the smaller caliber shell to also be German. FN is a German town or company. The HL is a German brass company I think it is apparent this is a 7.7 cm howitzer shell of German manufacture.
7,7 cm Feld Kanone 96
Marked: FN and HL27,
JUNI and 1917
St = Strengthened case (Stark),
96 = LOT number,
HL = Haniel Luege Düsseldorf (brass factory),
27 = inspection mark and
FN = Friedrich Niemeyer
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I believe I have identified the 2nd shell casing. I believe it to be a 10.5 cm casing. It is oversized to hold the expansion ring of the shell.
10,5cm lFH 98/09 Ammunition
It looks exactly like the two brass casings shown including the faint crimp ring. Hard to believe that little amount of powder could boost a shell that large.
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Juni is German for the month of June and so the 5th picture down, Post 6, of the head stamping shows that the casing was made in June 1917.
