Some of my collection

**shadowwolf** · 05-01-2010, 09:41 PM

AK-47, cheers for the info, I hadn't thought of that.

**packin9** · 05-01-2010, 11:59 PM

by AK-47

That wraping is probably the powder pag for the shell. In flak rounds gunpowder is found in silk bags.

I know for gun barrels they are used,but....I really thought it was a condom. (sorta)

**shadowwolf** · 05-02-2010, 11:12 AM

packin9, a condom???

**Matt L** · 05-02-2010, 03:59 PM

by AK-47

That wraping is probably the powder pag for the shell. In flak rounds gunpowder is found in silk bags.

Yup, very likely- but it wasn't just Flak rounds, it was virtually everything 2cm and up; certainly the fixed cartridge stuff, and I wouldn't be surprised if the incremental charges for artillery rounds were in silk bags too. It's a bit odd though that although these 2cm Flak38 rounds used the bags, 2cm MG151/20 and 3cm MK108 aircraft cannon did not- their propellent was loose like in any rifle round.

Anyway, here's a 2cm Flak38 cutaway showing the bag. They have markings on them (the Germans marked the hell out of everything) so something might be left on yours...

**shadowwolf** · 05-02-2010, 04:40 PM

Matt L, thanks that clears up the mystery of the condom/bag. The bag has no markings that I can see. The case is marked rrm., 5, 9, + a mark that looks like a crown? The head has ctu 253/44, and lko /45 in dark blue paint marked on it.

**packin9** · 05-02-2010, 08:05 PM

by shadowwolf

packin9, a condom???

Oh well. Does look like one to me.

**Matt L** · 05-04-2010, 03:16 PM

by shadowwolf

Matt L, thanks that clears up the mystery of the condom/bag. The bag has no markings that I can see. The case is marked rrm., 5, 9, + a mark that looks like a crown? The head has ctu 253/44, and lko /45 in dark blue paint marked on it.

A crown? Not if it's German to be sure- maybe post a photo of the base and we can 'interpret' for you. Usually there'd be a lot, year, manufacturer and an ordnance department acceptance mark (an eagle with a number); the Luftwaffe's mark is an stylized eagle with wings draped down over a Gothic 'L' and a number that miiiight be mistaken for a crown? But then Solothurn is a Swiss company and they could have licensed the weapon all over and perhaps the case isn't German. The projectile is easy though- ctu 253/44 is the manufacturer of the projectile itself (ironically) Christ & Co., Armaturenwerk, Gruenberg/Schles., lot 253 in 1944; the lko/45 in paint is the loader of the incendiary and fuse, Maschinenbau-Aktiengesellschaft vorm. Erhardt & Schmer, Saarbrueken and the year it was done.

**shadowwolf** · 05-04-2010, 03:45 PM

Matt L, cheers for all the info on the 20mm. Here is a photo showing the base with the marking on it. Any idea?

**Matt L** · 05-04-2010, 03:51 PM

You bet. Okay that's just a standard Army Waffenamt stamp- it's just not detailed and rather deeply struck. The 45 is the year (the 4 is lightly stamped, but there) the 9 is the lot number (obviously there wouldn't be many lots in 1945), and the rrm is a mystery since the 1944 published list manufacturer codes only go up to 'ozz'- there are no 'r' s- so this one was 'awarded' after, and its identity could be lost...