Unknown Shell

[Aragorn243]

This is also in the yard sale thead but I need help with this one. I found an interesting shell at a flea market this morning. I haven't researched it much yet so no real idea what or whose it is. Appears to be dated 1938 with a 1939 fuse with Arabic or Hebrew script on it. Looks to be 75mm. Beyond that, no idea. Did various image searches with no luck.

[Sapper740]

Definitely not Hebrew.

[Aragorn243]

I didn't think so but there was a possibility it was for a recoilless gun and the Israelis used them. I eliminated that as the band it not pre-grooved.

I'm getting suggestions it's Italian on Facebook, two individuals said that, but the Arabic doesn't fit. Ethiopian possibly. I can't think of any Arabs fighting for Italy during WWII if the dates are accurate.

A third fellow is suggesting a Krupp export shell to Afghanistan. I may never get to the bottom of this. It has a very distinctive proof on it that shouldn't be hard to find but I'm having no luck. Check the first photo of the fuse. Just above the 7.

[Aragorn243]

I appear to have a winner. “For Afghanistan is right, but the manufacturer is Rheinmetall-Borsig.”

These Facebook guys are good.

So it’s German pre-war. The larger marking. The double circles with the odd shape in the middle of the left is confirmed.

[Aragorn243]

So, I’m being offered a German 88mm shell for this one.

Now I would love to have a German 88, but this is setting off alarm bells. The guy already has one that is similar to this so why want a second and an 88 isn’t a cheap shell. He’s sent photos of both. I’m reluctant to ever get rid of anything.

[browningautorifle]

I look at it from one possibility for him...I had more than one of a few things and only have room for so many. I sold my extras even though they were hard to find. Now I have more and the sales paid for the new ones. If he's offering just an 8.8CM projectile, that's not much in my eyes, the whole round would be different. They just have a huge rep from history. Maybe you can get him to disclose exactly what this one is. I got a couple of my big projectiles by accident, one by a clear misidentification.

[Aragorn243]

It is just a projectile. Out of curiosity, how much is an 88 projectile worth. I have no idea, just assumed they were worth quite a bit as I've never seen one.

I bought this one because I liked it, I'm not seriously thinking about trading it. I have no idea what mines worth for that matter. I paid $65 for it and thought that was pretty good considering the condition and dates.

Bayonets, I'm good, shells, not so much. I see what a lot of guys ask for them and this was well under the usual for a shell this large. I'm probably under 100 combined shells and cases, at least larger than 20mm.

[browningautorifle]

how much is an 88 projectile worth.

That very much depends on where you are. I could expect to pay maybe $1000CDN for a complete Nazi 88 with casing and projectile, unfired. Maybe less. I was offered a complete one for $1100CDN and turned it down, took three others that cost about half again that. I think in the US they will be less money and in UK less again as they have lots in Europe. Just a projectile, I would expect maybe $500CDN if it came by but have no interest, they're over rated. I like my 120mm M358 way better.

[Aragorn243]

That would be about $365 US which I consider to be a LOT. That's even more than I was anticipating, I thought maybe $200 at most which still seems high for a trade for this particular shell I paid $65 for. Which seems to indicate that I'm in way over my head with these shells.

[browningautorifle]

Which seems to indicate that I'm in way over my head with these shells.

I would just seek an appropriate casing to accompany the 75 and keep it there. A casing will come your way, I'm sure.