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Rare Original World War II German 88mm Inert Tank Round Complete with Original World War II Wooden S

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:1,000.00 USD Estimated At:2,000.00 - 5,000.00 USD
Rare Original World War II German 88mm Inert Tank Round Complete with Original World War II Wooden S
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Rare Original World War II German 88mm Inert Tank Round Complete with Original World War II Wooden Shipping Box

This is an exceptionally rare WWII German 88mm anti-aircraft or tank round. The 88mm gun was originally designed as a anti-aircraft/flak gun in 1936 and then subsequently was used as a highly mobile field artillery piece and anti-tank gun in the various early battles in Europe and even in use during the Africa Corp campaigns. In 1942/43 it was adopted as the main tank cannon for the Panther, Tiger I and Tiger II tanks that were seen in all the German tank battles. This round was so effective it devastated the battlefields in Russia and Europe by utterly destroying Allied tanks and field gun emplacements with single shots kills out to 2000 meters, as well as its use as an anti-aircraft weapon in defending the fatherland. Now you would not think that with millions and millions of these round manufactured during WWII you would see a lot of these around however that is not the case as 99.9% were demilitarized or just used by the other European countries after WWII. The brass case is 32 1/4 inches long and the base/headstamp is marked "bzs/4" next to "enz/6388st/88KwK43". The "enz" code was for the "Enzesfelder Metallwerk", Enzesfeld plant, Vienna, Austria. The 88mm steel shell weighs approximately "22 lbs" and is approximately 15 inches long. It is equipped with two driving bands on the lower section of the shell and the base of the round is marked "A/bye/375" and is stamped with two "Eagle/WaA34" Waffenamt proofs next to a small shield that is also stamped "bye/26". This wartime code was for the "HANOMAG-Hannover'sche Maschinenbau A.G. vorm." Georg Egestorff, Hannover. It is stored in a WWII wooden shipping crate that is stenciled on top of the lid with: (Kw. K. 43)/8.8cm (Pak 43 u. 43/1./2./3) /(Pak43/41) the lower left corner is also stenciled with: "Heers Ammunition/(an undistinguishable weight)". The box has two steel hasps/locks on the front with two steel hinges on the back.

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Very good condition overall with the brass shell casing having a tarnished patina finish with clear sharp markings on the base. The shell head, appears to have been pulled/demilitarized by removing the explosives inside, but it was not fired as the nose cone is intact and complete. The wooden storage case is all intact with tight dovetailed corners with clear stenciled markings on top. The wooden box is probably even more rare than the round itself, as these became firewood in 1946-48. A very nice example of a super rare WWII German 88mm Tank round, that would fit perfectly in the "Tank Display" in your museum!