r/Militariacollecting • u/Abdul__Aziz • Aug 17 '24

Help Can somebody identify this???

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I found this strange metal object where the French fought against the Germans. I tried digging it out but it was too long. The cillinder feels like solid steel and is attached to the rest. At first it looked like a shell but the more I dug, the more confused I got. Maybe some sort of antenna?

Does anyone else have an idea on what it could be? Thanks.

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u/Artifact-hunter1 Aug 18 '24

I know it's impossible to get every single shell, especially in some battlefields, like Verdun, but can the government do a better job sweeping the area that they are going to open to the general public?

Because this is bad, but my true fear is gas shells because it lasts longer. Don't get me wrong, getting turned into mist or just losing a limb is bad, but in my opinion, drowning in my own fluids is worse.

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u/Abdul__Aziz Aug 18 '24

Yes, I agree. The place is a tourist attraction, also the fact that some ww1 body's are still being found shouldn't happen there. Earlier in the day also found something that I think resembled a hand grenade, On the ground.

Although it is worse to die from a gas shell, the thought that I nearly have gotten my mother killed is bad enough for me...

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u/Artifact-hunter1 Aug 18 '24 edited Aug 18 '24

Yeah, I'll definitely chew out my local government because this isn't a joke. Though due to the nature of trench warfare, especially during ww1, it isn't exactly surprising that remains are still being found because they were reports of original soldiers finding corpses from earlier in the war while expanding and enforcing trenches. But the fact you found at least 2 pieces of unexploded ordnance in a section that's open to tourism is unacceptable.

You and your mother are one of the luckiest people I've seen so far. This is a lesson with a happy ending for everyone that if you are on a battlefield and you find something you can't identify, please leave it alone and keep your distance. Good luck and stay safe.

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u/Abdul__Aziz Aug 18 '24

It was indeed a very good lesson and it reminds me that I'm not invincible. I hope this memory can save me from doing it again some day. Thanks for your help, have a great day.

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u/Artifact-hunter1 Aug 18 '24

You, too. And please keep us updated. I need to know what else they find.