Posted 13 years ago
scottvez
(977 items)
This trench art piece was made from a large section of an artillery round.
The shrapnel has been shaped and polished on one end, so it can be used as a letter opener.
These were very popular souvenir items during the war and during the post war battle field tourism boom.
This particular piece of shrapnel retained a small section of the copper driving band. Letter openers with remnants of the driving band are much more desirable for collectors.
If you like this please visit my other posts-- I have dozens of trench art items posted on Collectors Weekly.
Scott
Link to another I have posted with an finely engraved blade:
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/28186-ww1-trench-art-shrapnel-letter-opener-wi?in=user
Scott
Thanks for the love walksoftly.
Scott
I believe the correct term is "shell fragment" since shrapnel refers only to the type of "shot" found in certain rounds. Learned that when researching my shrapnel shell a while back.
Very cool. I agree, the driving band makes this thing amazing.
Thanks Doc. Both "shrapnel" and "shell fragment" would be correct.
While there are specific shells called "shrapnel shells"-- shrapnel is the accepted term for fragments from an exploded artillery shell, mine, or bomb.
Scott
Thanks for looking mikko.
Scott
Thanks for looking pencap-- I have several other shrapnel letter openers currently posted!
Scott
Thanks again bones!
scott
Thanks for looking petey and gatekeeper.
Scott
Thanks for looking tom!
scott
Thanks for looking dan!
scott
Thanks for looking jono!
scott
I just joined here so I could comment on this. My father, a WWII vet, died three months ago and in his things I found a shrapnel letter opener, with a monogram on the blade. How can I find out more about it? I don't know if it is a personal souvenir or just something he picked up along the way, or even which war it is from. He had it in a bag along with a WWII military scalpel. He had two purple hearts from separate battles in France.
Sorry for your loss.
Post your letter opener and I am sure you will get some comments about it.
Feel free to update me once you have posted it.
scott
Thank you -- I will when I can! New to this still.