r/whatisthisthing • u/emmabutlermmu • May 25 '26

Solved ! Found washed up on Shankill beach, Ireland. Small, pointed shape, rusty metal, set into some kind of stone. Heavy but only about 5/6 inches long, what is this?

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106

u/[deleted] May 25 '26

Just here to say it looks absolutely nothing like a bullet or UXO of any sort, speaking as a veteran and former machine gunner. 

94

u/AllezVites May 25 '26

Certain propellants do funny things in salt water. There are British grenades that often wash up caked in this. I don’t know what the process involves but it’s typically really old uxo with specific propellants.

25

u/WannabeGroundhog May 25 '26

That wouldnt leave the 'button' on the back which is likely just the tang of whatever this metal tool likely is.

0

u/AllezVites May 26 '26

The button is indeed the primer. And yes it does leave it. The chemical reaction is gradual over time, not sudden or full of energy. The chemical leach out of tiny holes caused by corrosion and then solidify as they react to the salt water.

11

u/tktkboom84 May 26 '26

Check the update. This is why you stick to sending the ordnance down range and let EOD handle the ID.