Comments for Okay - let's have a Whatzis today.

Okay - let's have a Whatzis today.

2007-11-04T10:07:53Z

I've received a complaint that there has been too much toothsome chewy faux-intellectual discourse (or maudlin self-pity) 'round here of late, so here's a Whatzis for you today.

You may begin.

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2007-11-05

2007-11-05T13:52:59Z

Trias - you have to remember this collector's quirks. He prefers items that are *used* not pristine. He's in it for the history, the connection to the people who used the artifacts for their intended purpose - not to have something that came off final assembly, was put in a crate, stored for 50 years, then sold off as surplus. Nope. He wants stuff that crossed the beach, climbed the mountain, hunkered in bunkers, etc. So beat up is preferable to unmarred. Cheaper, too, which doesn't hurt.

Comment from Rod Thorsen on 2007-11-05

2007-11-05T06:39:22Z

Thanks!! I really, truly, without reservation, and with absolutely no attempt to lessen, ameliorate, or in any other way express any form, basis, or expression of sarcasm, doubt or smirminess want to truly and sincerely, thank your very much (read A Fish Called Wanda) for your support in this!!! Once again, without any coercion or implied force, thanks very, very much. Regards Rod (multiple grins)

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2007-11-05

2007-11-05T06:31:06Z

Rod - Yes. No. Possibly, but not really likely, and again, possible, but not really likely.

Comment from Trias on 2007-11-05

2007-11-05T06:30:32Z

I think this boomstick end is much smaller than supposed. It's just a closeup. That looks dirty and while I have no doubt big boomsticks get dirty like any other that is not the place i'd expect to find it. Now this photo looks kinda modern and no self respecting collector would sully their toys or their reps with dirt would they? So perhaps this boomstick is more modern? Perhaps even in use? The other thing is the rounding seems so smooth, did ww2 era really have that?

Comment from Rod Thorsen on 2007-11-05

2007-11-05T06:07:16Z

Snorkal without the ball

Comment from Rod Thorsen on 2007-11-05

2007-11-05T06:00:41Z

Hmmm, could be a big whistle, I suppose.

Comment from Rod Thorsen on 2007-11-04

2007-11-05T05:58:51Z

Ok, if I understand it right, it's not what we think, but it is a muzzle brake. Uhh, don't we have rules about going DeSade all over the place?

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2007-11-04

2007-11-05T05:29:34Z

JTG, you amaze me with your trivia.

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2007-11-04

2007-11-05T05:19:18Z

Ah, AFSis - you're suffering from failure to follow the thread. The Whatzis isn't naval - the link I provided to OFS is of a naval system with a muzzle brake. JTG - it's not? You sure about that?

Comment from AFSister on 2007-11-04

2007-11-05T04:07:21Z

"It's naval" Well, in THAT case.. must be the flux capacitor for an aircraft carrier.

Comment from Justthisguy on 2007-11-04

2007-11-05T03:55:16Z

It's not radially symmetrical. Flash suppressor/compensator. Or a new weird variation on the Hilsch Vortex Tube.

Comment from HomefrontSix on 2007-11-04

2007-11-05T03:50:40Z

OK, so bigger or smaller? The "Whatzis" for goodness sake! Sheesh.

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2007-11-04

2007-11-05T02:14:05Z

Old Sailor Who-Casts-A-Large-Shadow (your Indian name) you know I couldn't let an assertion like that stand unchallenged. Admittedly, it's German, but it's naval, and there's a muzzle brake there...

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2007-11-04

2007-11-05T02:05:32Z

HFS - The hints refer to issues of scale. You're falling into the "this is eight inches" trap that we males have used for millenia to keep you gurls out of math, the sciences, and engineering in school. 8^ ) Sky color - the muzzle brake isn't painted. It's natural metal, with a matte finish. That *itself* is a major hint. *I'm* having fun anyway! HFS - I'm shamelessly shilling for the traffic tomorrow... ;^)

Comment from Old Fat Sailor on 2007-11-04

2007-11-05T01:55:22Z

Muzzle brake, wha for? Naval gunner never needed a muzzle brake.

Comment from HomefrontSix on 2007-11-04

2007-11-05T01:32:23Z

What if we're not blessed with patience? What if we can't wait until tomorrow??? Dangit, man. Help a girl out, would you?? I don't think it's a muzzle brake of any kind (based on the cursory research I've done over the past few hours) because of the wear and such on the tip of it. All of the pictures I've seen don't show that kind of wear and tear on them. And, as Ernie says, the locations of daylight in the picture don't make sense. After that, I'm stuck. And your "hints" (or lack thereof) aren't penetrating my thick skull either. I don't deal well with frustration either. Can you tell??

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2007-11-04

2007-11-05T00:02:24Z

I can see we're going to need some help. New pic tomorrow.

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2007-11-04

2007-11-04T20:48:21Z

Thanks for the video link, 'Phibian. We *did* blog about it when they pulled the lanyard. We also blogged it when the USAF delivered the guns to Afstan. But I don't think we've had the video.

Comment from CDR Salamander on 2007-11-04

2007-11-04T20:42:50Z

Hey John, the new PnZ2000 in AFG - first time Dutch arty guys have fired a shot in anger since the 1950s-and the first use of the PnZ2000 in combat. Good write up in Janes if you have access to such. Still wish they worked out the salt-water problem and kept that gun on ship. Sniffle.

Comment from Ernie on 2007-11-04

2007-11-04T16:59:50Z

If that's a muzzle brake, then somebody's been standing that gun on its nose. Besides which, there's daylight behind the thing, down in the corner, where the rest of the barrel should be. I don't have a clue what it is, but I'm pretty sure what it's not.

Comment from AFSister on 2007-11-04

2007-11-04T16:50:04Z

OK, I'm off to "bathe". "soak" in that thought for a while. heh.

Comment from AFSister on 2007-11-04

2007-11-04T16:15:42Z

*phew* You said: "You all are falling for the trap that crucifies girls and math." But what I initially read was "You all are falling for the trap that crucifies GIRTH and math." I personally prefer girth and geometry when it comes to girls and boys.

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2007-11-04

2007-11-04T15:58:43Z

Heh. Bathing takes care of that stickiness, AFSis. Gee, I wonder why no one thinks it's the cage to a cross-wind sensor or something. Hmmmmm. Context matters, pesky thing. You all are falling for the trap that crucifies girls and math. Something about why they don't do math and measurements well. Or not. I'm not giving out hints or clues or anything. Nope. Not me.

Comment from AFSister on 2007-11-04

2007-11-04T15:33:35Z

Yep. I'm with Dusty- end of a BIG gun. HEY! Us Zoomies have to stick together, you know.

Comment from mostly cajun on 2007-11-04

2007-11-04T15:09:35Z

The active element of the M32A1 combat potato peeler... MC

Comment from redleg on 2007-11-04

2007-11-04T14:51:58Z

That is the muzzle brake for a self propelled 152mm or 155mm Howitzer It is not a M109 series though

Comment from MR. T's Haircut on 2007-11-04

2007-11-04T14:41:42Z

Muzzle Break from self propelled Arty 155mm

Comment from wolfwalker on 2007-11-04

2007-11-04T14:39:18Z

Hmmm.... Yes a muzzle brake, even I can tell that much. Yes a land-based gun, probably a mobile one on an armored vehicle, a tank or tank destroyer. But a Panzer IV? I agree that it's most likely German, but it doesn't look quite right for the Panzer IV. It looks closer to the Panzer VI (Tiger II). Still doesn't seem exactly right, but that's the closest match I can find.

Comment from Barb on 2007-11-04

2007-11-04T05:50:17Z

I've been looking at the muzzle break in the WIkipedia pics for the Panzer IV, and that doesn't look like the same thing. The outside of this one is very straight, while the P-IV is flared near the base. Dusty - I was all set to make a remark just like yours, then I got sucked into trying to find the right match. ;-) Phooey ... I'm going to bed now!

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2007-11-04

2007-11-04T05:25:12Z

Heh. Things are getting outta sequence here. Snerk.

Comment from Justthisguy on 2007-11-04

2007-11-04T05:14:10Z

Hey, I wasn't *objecting* to the other stuff; sometimes I actually like a serious moping-and-brooding political piece, and please don't cease, to remind us about people who die for us, it's just nice to have something lighthearted from time to time, which engages the intellect in a fun way. And, yep, that's a purty pitcher of a purty muzzle brake, but I have no idea what piece it's attached to.

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2007-11-04

2007-11-04T05:12:30Z

Heh. Whattaya all doon up this late? Waiting to see if the MS patch for daylight savings works? [it did]

Comment from Rod Thorsen on 2007-11-04

2007-11-04T05:08:23Z

Fur sur, a WWII german muzzle brake.

Comment from Fred on 2007-11-03

2007-11-04T04:53:19Z

Panzer IV muzzle brake. Darn pilots.

Comment from Instapilot on 2007-11-03

2007-11-04T04:44:54Z

It's the end of a gun. Probably an Army gun. Big one, too.