I picked up these two old artillary shells from two antique stores the other day and am hoping that someone may be able to help me with some questions.

The first and most important question I have is are they safe/inert? I have seen similiar shells with holes drilled into them but these have none. But they also don’t seem to have any holes or screws where where explosives could be inserted inside the shell like I have ssen on other ones. I am assuming they are solid/nonexplosive projectiles but am a little nervous. I’d like to think it would be impossible to obtain anything dangerous but…. Not my smartest purchase in hind sight.

Second what are they? I think the older of the two (I am assuming the one with the solid brass ring around it is older) might be from a 1897 artillery gun based upon some internet searching. It has "Toledo screw company products" and what looks like "mark V" or "VI" on the base. The other one looks newer (based upon the irregular brass ring) but the same size. I think it may have been fired based upon the grooves at the nose and sides of the shell. Is the hole in the base a place for a fuse? Both measure approximately 4.5inches from tip to base and 1.5inches diameter.

Lastly, if they might not be inert, any advice about how to proceed? I certainly don’t want them around if they aren’t safe. Again, next time I will think twice about purchasing something that I don’t know more about. The guy I bought from said he thought they were inert but…

Again, thanks in advance for any help.

Pal

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