RARE AUSTRALIAN FINSBURY (MC) 1963 MANUFACTURED 25 POUNDER(25 PR CAL 87,6MM) MK2/1 BARREL FIELD ARTILLERY GUN HEAVY BRASS SHELL CASING WITHEARLY LOT NO 5

A 25 POUNDER FIELD ARTILLERY GUN SHELL CASING.

IT IS A87,6MM CALIBER SHELL CASING MANUFACTURED IN 1963 BY FINSBURY (MC) IN AUSTRALIA WHICH IS RARE TO FIND.

IT ALSO HAS AN EARLY LOT NO 5.

MARKINGS:

25 PR - 25 POUNDER

MK2/1 - MODIFIED MARK 2 BORE OF GUN

LOT 5 - AN EARLY MANUFACTURERS LOT NUMBER

M.C. - MANUFACTURERS DETAILS FINSBURY GUNS AMMUNITION FACTORY IN AUSTRALIA
MANUFACTURED CARTRIDGE CASES AND SHELL FUSES. AUSTRALIAN SHELL CASINGS ARE NOT SO COMMON

1963 - DATE OF PRODUCTION 1963

SIZE: 87.6MM DIAMETER 29CM HIGH WEIGHT 1,7KG

CONDITION: GOOD CONDITION. NO PRIMER.
 
25 POUNDER: The Ordnance QF 25-pounder, or more simply 25-pounder or 25-pdr, was the major British field artillery gun and howitzer (smaller than a cannon larger than a mortar) during the Second World War. Its calibre is 3.45-inch (87.6 mm). It was introduced into service just before the war started and it remained the British Armys primary artillary field piece well into the 1960s, with smaller numbers serving in training units until the 1980s. Many Commonwealth Nations countries (like Australia and South Africa) used theirs in active service until about the 1970s.The25-pounder was probably the most outstanding field artillery piece used by British and Commonwealth forces in the Second World War, being durable, easy to operate and versatile.

The 25-pounder was separate-loading; the shell was loaded and rammed, then the cartridge in its brass case was loaded and the breech closed. In British terminology, the 25-pounder was called quick firing (QF) originally because the cartridge case provided rapid loading compared with bag charges, and was automatically released when the breech was opened.

After the Second World War, 25-pounders remained in service with many Commonwealth armies into the 1960s. The gun was called G1 by the South African Defence Force. It was extensively used in the early stages of the South African Border War (1966-1989) including Operation Savannah.  The Rhodesian Army used the weapon during the Bush War (1964-1979)but by this stage the round could not penetrate enemy bunkers.

Why is it called 25 pounder? The 25 Pr was a field artillery gun firing a shell weighing 25 pounds (11.3 kg), hence the name 25 Pr. It was mounted on a 2 wheeled carriage utilising a circular firing platform.
 
MK2/1 BARREL: The Mark II, fitted to the Mark I carriage was the standard gun during the war. They were built in Australia and Canada but mostly in UK. This gun fired all charges, 1 3 and Super. The Mark II ordnance had six main marks of the barrel.
Mark II/I is born: In 1946, manufacturers started to modify the gun's breech ring (the part of a cannon behind the bore) by morticing the rear corners. A corresponding modification was made to the rear corners of the breech block. This was to reduce the instances of cracking the ring.
 
ALSO SEE MY OTHER ITEMS LISTED. I HAVE TWO ELAND 90MM GUN SHELLS ALSO ON AUCTION THIS WEEK.