37 m/m? projectile identification

[bk42261]

Found at my recycling facility.

Projectile only measures at (by tape measure as I loaned out my micro)

Base: 37mm
Length: 80mm
Two (double) drive bands appear to be brass
In between drive bands stamped K44 (K more lightly stamped)
Appears to be machined from steel, as it's magnetic ,solid ,and also
has a very sharp point milled in.

I was thinking it would make a really good "ball peen" type hammer
head by drilling a hole in the side and tapping it for a handle to thread
into the hole.

Again, it APPEARS TO ME to be a solid piece of milled steel with no
apparent "break" in structure for explosives or fuse, but I like both of
my hands, and don't want to lose one or both.

Any insight anyone? TIA

 

[yugorpk]

Sounds like a training round for an M3 anti tank gun. It was not a very effective gun against the later German tanks and didnt last long in American service.

 

[rcmodel]

Guessing don't get it when it comes to cannon shells!!

Is it painted any color?

Any markings on the base?

Can you post a good photo of it??

This was an apparently inert solid steel shell that had been floating around since WWI.

There was no visible seam at the nose insert.

I shot it with a 30-06 at 100 yards and it took off and flew 150 yards high like a giant 4th. Of July pinwheel when the explosive burned out of it!!

rc

 

[yugorpk]

Hold My Beer indeed sir!

 

[rcmodel]

It was perfectly safe.
I was hiding behind a big rock wall when I shot it.
Because I expected it might blow up.

No beer involved.

rc

 

[bk42261]

It's definitely a solid hunk of steel with no separate "nose" or base that
could be a fuse, but the 'drive bands" COULD be a junction for the
projectile to be treaded together, I suppose.

Will put it in a safe place, and see if the wife can show me how to post
pictures. ( I'm no good at that kind of stuff, but she is)

Thanks for responses so far, and hope to be safe and learn more.

 

[rcmodel]

Some of the old naval and anti-tank shells where not fused.
Like the one I posted pictures of.

They depended on the impact with steel armor creating enough heat & friction to cause them to explode just as they made a hole in the steel plate.

rc