Update..

Ok.. done the deed, with a MUCH more Darwinian setup than first envisioned.

Here are the shells, they are in various state of corrosion, some with CORAL growing on it.




Graham making a shell holder off a galvanised steel pipe.




This is how the shell holder looked like

Ok this is the firing pin





Aaaand... this is the setup
Very very Darwinian looking setup (for a reason some of my friends know heheh)



We figured that if we just drop a heavy bar onto the firing pin contraption, we can do it from a distance.
So we tried it..
Okay it does goes bang..
But plenty tame bang at that..

So emboldened, Graham just simply knock it using a hammer..

Never realized that a shell primer over 70 years underwater could produce that much of a flame!!

Dateline: The land down under somewhere near Sydney.
Man Reputed to be named Graham was admitted today to Royal North Shore Hospital for severe burns to his legs. Alcohol was not involved but where is the fun in that. His partner in crime Gelandangan reputed to be a notorious Hunting Nut super member was admitted to the psychiatric centre for uncontrolled laughter. Although no one will ever mistake them for engineers, God bless these two and pass a lager!
( This reporter would most likely have done the same thing! ROTFLMAO)

Cheers, Vince

with that sort of enginuaty are you sure there isnt a Kiwi some where in your ancestors???