previous post next post  

Okay -- What's This?

April 17, 2006 | | Comments (20)

No, not the bottle. You already know what *that* is. I hope...

The bottle is now as empty as the thing next to it. You've gotta be quicker, Ry.

There actually *is* a colored band on the critter -- I've PhotoShopped the relevant details out just to keep the playing field level, but the hole in the side is real and just about big enough to give a house-hunting wren some real frustration.

It's just a plain aluminum tube

See? Told you it was open at both ends...

with a very important job. And I found it at the second site I Googled (well, only a line drawing of it, but it included all the relevant details), so it's out there...

And, no, Neffi -- it's *not* André's shaving mug.

Share This Article:

Categories:

20 Comments

By Boquisucio on April 17, 2006 1:37 AM
Could that be a canister for an XM16 (aka BLU-39/B23) CS Grenade. You know, them tear jerkers that are dispensed from XM-165's?. Just like the Orkin Man Blattids back into their cracks, nothing clears-up a jungle-full of vectoring VC's like a few pounds worth of Chlorobenzalmalononitrile.
 
By John of Argghhh! on April 17, 2006 6:28 AM
Heh. It's kicking my butt so far. I like Boq's answer, but the stripe on the tube is too wide and the wrong color, unless it's one of the early test versions, painted for visibility during testing. I looked for pyro engine start cartidges, and even TOW launch motors. It's too small for the launch motor itself, but it could be a cover for it - only I can't find any visual support for that theory, and I dno't recall anything like this sticking out of the the end of a TOW (but I've never seen a live shot being loaded, either, only fired).
 
By Were-Kitten on April 17, 2006 7:18 AM
Looks like a bracelet to me. I'm pretty much clueless on these things anyway, but jeez.... this one is way out there, Bill.
 
By John of Argghhh! on April 17, 2006 8:56 AM
Once they get that long, W-K, I think we've moved to the "bracers" category.
 
By Outlaw13 on April 17, 2006 9:14 AM
It looks like the aluminum band that holds the folding fins on a 70mm (2.75 inch for you old guys) rocket down before you load it in the tube...but I don't recall the hole being there, so I could be/might be wrong.
 
By Andre the Pole on April 17, 2006 9:33 AM
Hah! Choke iz on you, Chief... Andre don't shave hiz mug!! Cheeky dancink girlz likink ze hirsute manliness...
 
By John of Argghhh! on April 17, 2006 9:55 AM
Outlaw - that was my other working hypothesis - but if there's a line drawing of that on the web as Bill alleges, I ain't found it yet, searching under all sorts of variations on fin retainers. But I know a *lot* more about Zunis, Hydra-70s and FFAR's in general. In fact, this damn thing is why there was no post this morning...
 
By OD on April 17, 2006 12:08 PM
Plain aluminium tube? Must be from an Iraqi nuclear weapons centrifuge. Ha ha. Really and truly, Professor Cheney said so. Oops, actually, maybe it's just a rocket combustion chamber. Oh dear, too late. I'm pleased to see Americans practising their aluminium-tube-identification skills. ;)
 
By KCSteve on April 17, 2006 12:46 PM
I have no idea what it is myself, not being properly versed in all the fun toys. However, I do note the three bits at the top that appear to be made to index into grooves on whatever it goes on / in. Looks to me like it's intended to hold something down as a safety cover. Based on the hole and the band I'd say you twist / pull to expose the band which then puts the hole over either another hole (so you can access what's inside) or let's some sort of pin pop up. The small raised band just under the colored band also supports this functional idea. Be interesting to see what it's for.
 
By Cricket on April 17, 2006 1:20 PM
And here I thought it was a trick stein. Silly me.
 
By Raymond B on April 17, 2006 7:34 PM
You have found the remnants of my 1990 beer keg. Thanks, now please mail it to me so I can get my deposit back. Raymond B www.voteswagon.com
 
By HomefrontSix on April 17, 2006 7:59 PM
Dangit! Like I have *nothing* better to do with my time. Darned OCD...not gonna let me be until I figure it out. Where is MacGyver when I need him? - hfs
   
By John of Argghhh! on April 17, 2006 8:25 PM
HFS - I looked at that and rejected it as being too long. I will be *sooooooooooooo* embarrassed...!
 
By HomefrontSix on April 17, 2006 8:27 PM
Yeah - the length was the stumbling block in my mind too. I'm still searching... - hfs
 
By HomefrontSix on April 17, 2006 8:45 PM
John ~ embarrassed? Why?
 
By HomefrontSix on April 17, 2006 8:56 PM
Ok - from what I can discern, the MK-58 is 21.5 inches in length. That being said, if the item in the picture is one of 4 sections (keep in mind I have never seen an MK-48 in person), then it would make sense that the section in question IS approximately the right size. Since I'm new at this, when will we get an answer? Patience is NOT one of my strong points... - hfs
 
By ry on April 17, 2006 9:56 PM
I'm even getting capped on with picture comments? Ohhhhh, youse a crewl bastiche Cheif.
 
By Boquisucio on April 17, 2006 10:19 PM
Oh God - Grant me patience; but please hurry!!!
 
By HomefrontSix on April 17, 2006 10:27 PM
BOQ ~ I learned a long time ago not to pray to God for patience...for then He will grant you situations in which to PRACTICE... - hfs
 
© 2008 John Donovan
All rights reserved.