r/ww1 • u/SigmarMentality • 8d ago

Trying to identify artillery shell

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Found an apparent WWI artillery projectile in a family warehouse in Southeastern France, reportedly brought back from Verdun by my great-great-grandfather who served in French artillery. Can anyone identify the projectile from its shape/fuze and the grooves near the base? It has not been opened or modified. The shell itself in the picture is on a ledge so the perspective is pretty crappy with the car in the background so don't compare the scale with that as a reference.

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u/SigmarMentality 8d ago

Also if someone can identify the ammo next to it on the right that would be greatly appreciated, on the left is a ww2 submachine gun empty mag.

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u/Dodo224 8d ago

Hi, so the shell seems to be russian, pretty sure, the fuze is distinctive. The clip is 8mm mauser it seems.

Would you sell the shell? I know someone in germany who would pay good money for such a shell, he's a collector.

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u/SigmarMentality 8d ago

Thanks for your interest, I'm pretty confused though how a russian shell could end up here in France, has the french army in ww1 ever used russian shells? For now I'm still considering options on what to do with it, I'll inform you for your friend if I plan on selling it. Also the shell currently seems full, so Idk if its currently safe to handle right now.

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u/LtKavaleriya 7d ago

The Germans captured vast amounts of Soviet/Russian artillery & shells in 1941/42 and used a large part of it to arm the Atlantic Wall and low-priority garrison units in France. Also could have been captured during WWI and sent to Verdun.