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WWI 57mm Casing with Masonic Trench Art


Garandomatic
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Garandomatic

Don't have too much trench art in my collection, but I found this a while back for a decent price, and it has some personal interest for me. The artist made a wooden shell for it. Anybody know what the gun looked like that fired this? Ever see much masonic trench art?

post-9670-1305682424.jpg

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Jack's Son

This is the first of its kind that I have seen, and I'm really surprised now that you have posted it.

The Craft has been around along time, and through a lot of wars.

I have seen pins and emblems, but not trench art on the forum before.

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Garandomatic

Yeah, I thought it was pretty unique. It looks like the tolls might have been from an armorer's box, as the texture looks to be from a screwdriver with a thicker bit, and the dots on the square and compasses might be from a punch. Heck, I need to hold my .45 auto up to it and see if anything matches up!

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Jack's Son

While I am not familiar with the 'tools' the soldiers had at their disposal, I am always impressed, and sometimes amazed with their artistry.

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Garandomatic

Not a .45 kit, that's for sure, but pretty well done! I oughta look at the Enfield and the Springfield and see if anything on them matches up.

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That shell is a beautiful piece of trench art.

 

Anybody know what the gun looked like that fired this? Ever see much masonic trench art?

The shell may have been from a QF 6 pounder Hotchkiss, calibre 2.244 inch/57 mm, Naval/coastal battery gun (US/UK), or the adapted model first used in WWI British tanks:

 

post-21709-1305780215.jpg

 

Although I have seen some "Masonic trench art"*, it is interesting to note that after pre-WWII Germany "outlawed" Freemasonry, the Forget-Me-Not flower/pin was substituted as an observable substitute recognition.

* [i have a related, and rather unique, example of CW trench art that I will post in "Misc/Unknown" section.]

 

 

The Craft has been around along time, and through a lot of wars.

 

The Craft has been around a very long time.

I found it quite interesting that both sides of a, then current, war/conflict have often been known to participate together in Lodge meetings, during such. The American Civil War is one prime example; the Revolutionary War, as well. The spirit of humble, sincere Brotherhood remained intact and persevered.

 

Regards,

Don.

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