Ammo Can torture test (Family finds fallout shelter in backyard)

[RetiredUSNChief]

"The boxes, old military ammunition crates, contained markings that suggested there might be explosives inside, so the family called the local branch of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms."

Well, with all due respect, we might call this "silly"; however, all we have to go on here with respect to this is what's in the article...and it says that the people saw markings on the boxes (clearly identifiable to them as military in origin) that indicated there MIGHT be explosives inside.

So they decided that discretion was the better part of valor and called the authorities.

A sensible thing to do, in my opinion.

Perhaps the direct knowledge and experience of some of us here would have lead to a different course of action, had we been there. But keep in mind, also, that I'm speaking of knowledge and experience...not unsubstantiated opinions and curiosity.

As a family man, had I found this next to my home, I very likely would have been just as cautious.

At best, the outcome would be exactly what happened here and everybody goes away happy. At worse, it might actually be dangerous and someone could be hurt or killed.


Gotta admit, though...that's a really COOL find!

 

[Double Vision]

Interesting story. It's pretty cool how well-preserved the contents of the cans were.

I gotta admit, that vault would have been opened ASAP after we bought the house. Who wouldn't be curious about it?

 

[Robbins290]

I gotta get some of those cans

 

[ChaoSS]

If I found something like that, I'd just tie some rope onto it, climb back out and give it a good tug, if it can slam into something without going off, it ought to be safe enough to haul out.


Then the ATF can look at it, if I really thought there might be explosives that needed to be disposed of. But inviting a federal agency into a hidden bunker, and then telling the world about it, that just defeats the purpose of having one these days.


And I can not imagine living somewhere for ten years before checking out a bunker in the back yard.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

"The boxes, old military ammunition crates, contained markings that suggested there might be explosives inside, so the family called the local branch of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms."

We have had situations locally mentioned in the newspaper: someone (usually a farmer) dies, and going through the estate folks find either explosive war trophies, including grenades or mortar shells, or dynamite bought for removing tree stumps. One incident involved about a half-box of dynamite* and the farm had been abandoned for years. Locally quarrying and mining are common occupations

ATF does deal with arson investigations and explosive ordnance disposal, so it is a natural call. If it was not my ammo cans and I did not know what was in them, I would let EOD investigate.







*Checking the Austin Powder Co. data, a standard dynamite "case" is 44 lbs or 88 1.25x8 inch half-pound sticks.

 

[FROGO207]

So a couple years back a local citizen hand delivered a live grenade to the local PD dispatch counter. After clearing the building and calling us (local FD) they got the county bomb squad to remove said item and detonate it in a local gravel pit. Lots of caution but that seems the way it is done nowadays.

 

[GBExpat]

Old dynamite, specifically, is BAD NEWS. It can become very unstable.

 

[geist262]

C'mon! theyve been there ten years and never opened it up!?!!?

C'mon! where is your sence of adventure!, Id have opened that thing up IMMEDIATLY...

Agreed!


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