Found 2 shell casings inside the hull

[Phill]

Gave her a final pressure wash off today and out from under the fuel tank support bracket came two .303 casings. I was quite excited about it until I see they were blanks, or appear to be. The ends have the folds on them, and they are marked 1941 DA VII. The one casing has a raised primer, obviously from an action with headspace issues. Makes a good topic for discussion. Phil

[lynx42]

Phil,
I think that they are the ballistite cartridges for the .303 rifle grenade launcher. They are silver coloured 1/2 way down the cartridge like the one on the right.
I have a tin full displayed with my .303 smle grenade launcher.
Interesting find.
Rick.

[Lynn Eades]

What country are you in, and would you like to post some pictures/details of your carrier?

[Phill]

I'm in Canada, and found them in a MK1 I have. I wasn't able to see any paint on them, just can't seem to get a close-up with the old Olympus I have. Phil
http://www.mapleleafup.org/forums/sh...ad.php?t=14493

[motto]

The headstamp on the cases would indicate that they are in fact from MK Vll Ball Round. Anything other than Ball used a letter code to indicate what it was. If you look at your grenade launching blanks Rick, they should have the letter L in the headstamp.
The DA part of the headstamp indicates who they were made by. In this case it is Dominion I think which was Canadian.
If they were definitely rosette crimped, they must have been reprocessed cases but in that case should also have been re-identified.
The staining half way up the case I think is just that, a stain, if it was on both then it would mean something.
David

[Lynn Eades]

I could have googled Bellville, but theres probably more than one around the world. Any way it helps to know where you posting from.Thanks for the heads up.
I take it, that your carrier is a MkI* (Canadian)then, as apposed to a MkI which is British built. (I've wondered if there are any British carriers in Canada.) Not many british ones seem to have survived anywhere.

[lynx42]

David,
You might be right, but my ballistites don't have L on them anywhere.
I'm attaching a few photos for ID purposes. You will see why I thought Phil's was a ballistite from the colouring of the cartridge.
Regards Rick.

[Lynn Eades]

As you point out, the ballistite catridges are not rossette crimped. it is only the blanks that are crimped.

[motto]

I wasn't quite right with the letter code Rick. H is the code for Grenade Launcher Blanks. I have a breakdown of the codes somewhere but am having to rely on unreliable memory. The letter Z in the identification code indicates nitrocellulose propellant. The MF identifies the Melbourne Footscray factory. If it was Maribyrnong it would be MG.
David

[lynx42]

David, I said when you became an MLU member that you would bring a wealth of information to our forum. Well I wasn't wrong. Thanks for that info. I certainly am learning from you.
Regards Rick.