Gents,

This is a canister I bought at an antique store many years ago and I still don’t definitively know what it is. It was described to me as a container for blasting caps. I have asked a few people to no avail, and I have never seen something even similar online. Either I’m way off on its origin or I simply haven’t come across it.
Experts of field gear, please reveal the identity of this canister. It is the one item I own that I blankly stare at.

Thank you, Ben


Unknown US Canister
The cylinder has a decent weight that’s closer to 10 lbs. It has a diameter around 2.4 inches and is about 7.6 inches long with the end caps. There are six pieces in the construction but only four are removable. The end caps and ‘spacer’ disks are removable while the steel bands are affixed to the cylinder.



Unknown US Canister
Both ends of the cylinder have this oddly shaped hole.



Unknown US Canister
The outer faces of the end pieces. The disk had a center slot that was crudely welded closed. The caps are knurled on the exterior.



Unknown US Canister
The inner faces of the end pieces. The back side of the disk was sanded down to create a flush face.