We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2007 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/yesterdays_what.html Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:59:02 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2008 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification The Land-Locked Sailor Gun Dealer (though there is a salt-water body nearby, it simply has no outlet to the sea), John S, was correct. It is in fact the fuze train of a black-powder time fuze (in this case, French) from the 1880-1918 era. Of course, he was also wrong. Because it's been an ashtray a lot longer than it ever served as a fuze... Anyway, a fuze much like these. In fact, the fat one on the incomplete rusty relic (second from the right) is identical. John's description was correct - a black powder fuze train filled those grooves.... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/yesterdays_what.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/yesterdays_what.html Sat, 10 Mar 2007 10:27:01 -0600 Harvey wins the non-existant prize for making the connection I was sure someone would make. I admit to being a touch surprised that it was the first comment... 24 hours after the post posted. The regular whatziss guys are slackin'. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/yesterdays_what.html#comment-57738 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/yesterdays_what.html#comment-57738 Sun, 11 Mar 2007 09:29:46 -0600 'Tis the Grail! My quest is over! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/yesterdays_what.html#comment-57737 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/yesterdays_what.html#comment-57737 Sun, 11 Mar 2007 09:08:14 -0600