ORIGINAL BRASS CARTRIDGE CASE FROM WORLD WAR I “BIG BERTHA” CANNON.

Only one dozen massive “42cm Kurze Marinekanone 14 L/12 in Raderlafette” (42cm short naval cannon on wheeled carriage) were manufactured. The gun was nicknamed “Dicke Bertha” (Big Bertha) by German soldiers in World War I. The gun was designed under great secrecy by Krupp. At the time of construction, the Big Bertha’s were the largest and most powerful, movable artillery pieces by use of any army in the world. The gun could fire projectiles weighing close to one ton, almost six miles. Shells could penetrate close to 50 ft of concrete and soil. The crew to service one “Big Bertha” was 125 men. Cartridge casing has height of almost 17″, bottom diameter of 16.8″, a base diameter of 18.3″ and weighs over 80 lbs. Casing is marked on base with various proofs and date of April 1915 and maker “KARLSRUH PATRONENFABRIK”. Cartridge casing was not physically attached to the projectile. In operation of this massive gun, the projectile was loaded first then cartridge with propellant charge was taken from a wicker basket designed to hold each cartridge, which included several hundred pounds of propellant charge. This massive casing is a rare survivor of “The War to End All Wars” as 80 lbs of brass had many other purposes. PROVENANCE: Springfield Arsenal, LLC Artillery Collection. CONDITION: Very good overall. Markings discernible as can be seen in photos. 4-54200 (3,000-5,000) – Lot 2098

Auction: Firearms - March 2015

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2098	$5,310.00	ORIGINAL BRASS CARTRIDGE CASE FROM WORLD WAR I “BIG BERTHA” CANNON. Only one dozen massive “42cm Kurze Marinekanone 14 L/12 in Raderlafette” (42cm short naval cannon on wheeled carriage) were manufactured. The gun was nicknamed “Dicke Bertha” (Big Bertha) by German soldiers in World War I. The gun was designed under great secrecy by Krupp. At the time of construction, the Big Bertha’s were the largest and most powerful, movable artillery pieces by use of any army in the world. The gun could fire projectiles weighing close to one ton, almost six miles. Shells could penetrate close to 50 ft of concrete and soil. The crew to service one “Big Bertha” was 125 men. Cartridge casing has height of almost 17″, bottom diameter of 16.8″, a base diameter of 18.3″ and weighs over 80 lbs. Casing is marked on base with various proofs and date of April 1915 and maker “KARLSRUH PATRONENFABRIK”. Cartridge casing was not physically attached to the projectile. In operation of this massive gun, the projectile was loaded first then cartridge with propellant charge was taken from a wicker basket designed to hold each cartridge, which included several hundred pounds of propellant charge. This massive casing is a rare survivor of “The War to End All Wars” as 80 lbs of brass had many other purposes. PROVENANCE: Springfield Arsenal, LLC Artillery Collection. CONDITION: Very good overall. Markings discernible as can be seen in photos. 4-54200 (3,000-5,000) – Lot 2098 Auction: Firearms - March 2015 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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ORIGINAL BRASS CARTRIDGE CASE FROM WORLD WAR I “BIG BERTHA” CANNON.