Have questions about US 105MM M84 B1 1944 M

[Manchu Warrior]

I found this recently at the flea market. When I first found it I assumed that it was possibly from the Vietnam era or even more modern because of how clean it was. I was pleasantly surprised when I examined the round when I got home that it is fact dated 1944. I wasn't finding much info online but low and behold I found the info right here on the forum. With that said I still have questions. Is this M84 B1 in fact a smoke round? I'm asking because this weighs in at 22 pounds and seems to be pretty solid for a smoke round. Also, what does the P indicate? There also seemed be different opinions on the other listing about the rounds correct color. That one was black and and some responses stated that it should have been gray. So is the color correct on this one? I am also curious on the rarity and something I usually never ask and that is what is the value? Just would like to know if it was in fact a good $40.00 investment.  Please accept my apologies on the poor quality of my photos. Thanks!

 

 

[Kaptainssurplus]

If it is marked M84B1 it is a leaflet round, not a smoke round. Grey would be the correct color for the M84B1. While this model isn't common, it isnt rare either. Also check the fuze, it looks like a modern time fuze, and may not be correct for the round.  For $40 it was a steal! Value usually is $150-250 on these with correct fuze, your may not be. If you need anymore info just google the model number, there is lots of information on the web about this round. 

[Manchu Warrior]

13 hours ago, Kaptainssurplus said:

If it is marked M84B1 it is a leaflet round, not a smoke round. Grey would be the correct color for the M84B1. While this model isn't common, it isnt rare either. Also check the fuze, it looks like a modern time fuze, and may not be correct for the round.  For $40 it was a steal! Value usually is $150-250 on these with correct fuze, your may not be. If you need anymore info just google the model number, there is lots of information on the web about this round. 

I didn't make it clear but I did in fact find other information online about the round. With that said I was confused because while one source did state that it is a leaflet round several others stated that it is a smoke round. So I went with smoke round for that reason. Can you also give me details to identify an original fuse?  I appreciate the information.  Thanks!

[Arkaidiyh]

According to TM 43-0001-28 Army Ammunition Data Sheets your round is in fact a leaflet projectile and uses either Fuze MTSQ M501 or M501A1.  Color on the data sheet is blank , so no help there.  I have found no smoke round using that nomenclature in 105mm.  

[917601]

On 10/12/2022 at 12:07 AM, Kaptainssurplus said:

If it is marked M84B1 it is a leaflet round, not a smoke round. Grey would be the correct color for the M84B1. While this model isn't common, it isnt rare either. Also check the fuze, it looks like a modern time fuze, and may not be correct for the round.  For $40 it was a steal! Value usually is $150-250 on these with correct fuze, your may not be. If you need anymore info just google the model number, there is lots of information on the web about this round. 

A recent auction sold one for $375, plus 20 percent buyers fee PLUS shipping. All 105mm  rounds are getting hard to find. 
 

I had a bid of $250 for it and an M1 HE, for a friend who has been looking for one.

[Kaptainssurplus]

2 hours ago, 917601 said:

A recent auction sold one for $375, plus 20 percent buyers fee PLUS shipping. All 105mm  rounds are getting hard to find. 
 

I had a bid of $250 for it and an M1 HE, for a friend who has been looking for one.

Yes prices have gone up since my comment almost 2yrs ago. Plus it seems a lot of these auction house prices are outliers, I would consider GB, private sales and show prices a better source of actual prices. The auction houses prices always seem to be more for some reason, IMO it's the uneducated that pay more at these auctions or the situation of excitement bidding at the time. 

 

And yes, all good ordnance is getting harder to find. I haven't had any issues with finding 105s in particular, but other stuff is for sure getting much harder to find. And the flip side some other types of ordnance are getting easier to find as time goes on. And with any hobby people age out or die and then things become more available again, it's the unfortunate cycle in every collection hobby.