105MM Howitzer Brass Cases

[Aragorn243]

Wouldn't bother me in the slightest. I have live 50 cal rounds. I probably wouldn't want a live large caliber round simply due to the hazard the explosives could be if someone struck the primer but I don't sweat the small stuff.

[browningautorifle]

Likewise, I have a 25mm live TPT but that's the biggest. .50 cal too but just simple stuff. The small stuff is all live but I have license for that presently. All the heavy ord would be too dangerous to have live in any form.

[Flying10uk]

I would assume that a shell case with a live primer is not legal to own in the UK under current UK laws.

I only buy items that I am sure are legal to own in the UK.

[browningautorifle]

I would assume that a shell case with a live primer is not legal to own in the UK under current UK laws.

Pretty sure you're right there...

[Aragorn243]

I would assume that a shell case with a live primer is not legal to own in the UK under current UK laws.

Why assume, you live there, look it up. From what I understand, it probably is illegal but I'd want to know for sure if I lived there. But by the same token, if you're at a show somewhere and someone is selling a shell casing that has an electronic primer that doesn't look fired, it would be illegal for them to have it themselves if that were the case.

Just saying you're losing out on a lot of potential collectibles. A lot of my larger shells are fired electrically.

[Flying10uk]

if you're at a show somewhere and someone is selling a shell casing that has an electronic primer that doesn't look fired, it would be illegal for them to have it themselves if that were the case.

Just because someone is offering an item for sale doesn't necessarily make it legal to own. What other collectors do is up to them but I always examine carefully before purchase and only go ahead with the purchase if I am completely satisfied that the item is safe and also legal to own in the UK. If it's a shell case that has a struck primer then I know I'm ok to purchase but a shell case with an un-struck primer, which don't turn up that often, I don't buy.

The 2nd part of your question, it is also up to the seller of an item to ensure that the item in question is legal to own in the UK and, therefore, legal to sell.

[Aragorn243]

Yes and my point being, an electronic primer is NOT struck. You can tell if it's been fired by looking inside the casing. If it's a small caliber shell, 50 cal or less, they need to be struck so if those are illegal in the UK, then you don't buy. Probably a third of my large shell cases have unstruck primers but all have been fired electrically.

[Flying10uk]

I don't buy shell cases with un-struck primers. Whether a shell case with a fired electronic primer is legal or not doesn't arise with me because I wouldn't buy it if the primer is un-struck in any case.

Most of my shell cases are WW2 or earlier.

It would be interesting to know when electronic primers came into use, anyone?

[Aragorn243]

It would be interesting to know when electronic primers came into use, anyone?

electronic primers were extensively used by the Germans in WWII. Luftwaffe MG 131 were electrically fired. So, they were in use in WWII with increased changes following. Most large shells today are electrically fired.

So yes, in WWII most shells were still using chemical primers but post war the transition progressed at different rates in different nations.

[CINDERS]

If in doubt have a look into the shell case and look at the primer tube if its hollow and all the holes along its length are clear then that primer has been fired (Electronically) so is safe the inside will show obvious signs of combustion from the primer & propellant contents.
That's what Aragorn is alluding to that electric primers do not show the obvious indentations a standard primed shell will exhibit.
If you talking WWI ordinance then they were always a standard primer so obviously a look down the inside to see what gone on or not you can soon tell if a the round has been fired by that case I have a lot of WWI shell cases German, English & French all fired safe as houses.