Posted 12 years ago
Horicon57
(1 item)
Bullet lighter with an inscription/maker stamp R.K. and Vienna Made with a stamp that looks like a hat or something. Is R.K. for Richard Kohn? Any idea of age, origin, etc.?
Bottom screw is missing; I have provided an image of what it looks like.
Any ideas?
What are the markings on the bottom of the cartridge?
Scott
The screw that goes in the bottom is missing. I will post an image of the hole and the markings (my camera battery just died...ugh.)
That is a great item.
If the cartrige is a bit less than 2 1/4" long and the base is a bit over half an inch diameter, I'd bet this is an 8x56mm Austrian Manlicher cartridge, which was the standard infantry rifle during WWI, and makes sense for a Vienna marking.
IF I am correct there, then the marking at the top of the cartridge head could be what's left of the double-headed eagle of Austria-Hungary after enlarging the primer hole, which would make the cartridge pre-WWII, and likely WWI vintage.
I'd say it is a WW1 era cartridge as well. The "1" on the right side of the photograph would have originally had another number after it to indicate the year of manufacture.
Because of the "Vienna Made" markings, I would think that this was made in the 1920s to meet the demand for war souvenirs as battlefield tours became popular.
I am a trench art collector as well. I have several items currently posted on Collectors Weekly that may be of interest to you.
Thanks for sharing,
Scott
Wow...thank you all so much for your information!