Early training rounds.

[Panzer 3]

Hi,
I picked these up this morning at the local market they are in very good shape for the year, and are marked R /|\ L , 09 V11.
Dave.
Dave,

[TonyE]

They are Drill Mark III rounds, made on reject Ball Mark VII cases.

When the pointed Ball Mark VII round was introduced in 1911 a drill round with a pointed wood bullet was also introduced as the Drill Mark IV to represent the ball round. It proved too fragile in service though and manufacture of the round nosed Drill Mark III continued well into WWI when it was eventually replaced by the Drill Mark V.

Picture shows WWI successors to your rounds.

Drill Mark IV
Drill Mark V
Experimental Drill Mark VI
Drill Mark VI

Regards
TonyE

[Panzer 3]

Hi Tony,
Im hoping to get some more of these as the man i deal with has a bag full of this type and others, so im interested in getting those. I have some of the alluminium looking ones marked R /|\ L D V1, also one none marked. going by the dates they should make a nice collection.
Dave.

[TonyE]

The aluminium looking ones are in fact made of what they referred to as "White metal" which is a cupro-nickel alloy, very similar to that used for bullet envelopes.

The Drill Mark VI was introduced in 1918 and served throughout WW2, although it was supplemented by the expedient Drill Mark VIII (wood pointed bullet - again) and Mark IX (metal covered wood bullet).

If and when you get them post pictures and headstamps. Who knows, there might be some rare ones there.

Regards
TonyE

[Panzer 3]

Will do tony hoping to get up there this afternoon, looking forward to finding out.
Dave.

[Panzer 3]

Hi Tony,
This is what i picked up today, all wood heads from 1907 to 1915, + some others, i have one pointed wood head dated 1928, i will try to get pics of the headstamps on here.
Dave.

[TonyE]

Nothing too scarce there unfortunately.

What is the headstamp on the one with the pointed wood bullet please?

Regards
TonyE

[Panzer 3]

Hi Tony, The head stamp on the pointed one is F.A. 28 hope this helps.
Dave.

[Panzer 3]

The wood goes right through the casing,
Dave.

[TonyE]

That is not a .303 inch drill round but a WW2 .30 calibre drill made for the Home Guard from fired American cases. It is Drill Mark II and the case was originally made by Frankford Arsenal.

Regards
TonyE