Yesterday, Bill Galvini wrote:
>For a study of the problems of handling, disarming, and storing
>potentially explosive artifacts such as cannon balls, hand grenades,
>bullets, or even larger items of military ordnance, the curatorial staff
>at the Naval Undersea Museum in Keyport, Washington, would appreciate
>hearing from museums which have experience, either good or bad, with
>these items.

We often come across live munitions at the Australian War Memorial. We have
a good working relationship with the Australian Army and Australian Federal
Police Bomb Squad, and we refer any live bombs, cannon balls, flares, etc
to them for disarming. They can usually give us back the undamage casings
etc, after the explosive has been removed. We usually disarm centre-fire
bullets (up to 0.5" cal) ourselves with a Kinetic Bullet Puller or, in the
case of bullets that have corroded to the extent that the shells have been
perforated, we dissolve the propellant in acetone. The bullet primers are
either soaked in acetone or detonated by firing in the appropriate firearm
after the propellant has been removed. Rimfire 0.22" cal bullets we usually
dismantle by hand and then treat with acetone.

Live munitions should be stored in a cool, dry, vibration free place, away
from flammable items, and should be clearly labelled as to their danger.

You should also be aware that some firearms are dangerous, even without
live ammunition. In 1995 the Singleton Infantry Museum had an accident with
a PIAT (Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank) Projector. A person was handling
the PIAT without a projectile in it, when he pulled the trigger. The weapon
was in the cocked position, and the release of the spring mechanism and
firing pin cut off 2 of his fingers!

George Bailey
Objects Conservator
Australian War Memorial
Treloar Centre for Conservation
4 Callan St, Mitchell, A.C.T. 2911
Australia
Phone: +61 6 241 6122
fax:   +61 6 241 7998
email: [log in to unmask]