Info about this shell casing?

Hi everyone,

I found this shell casing safety-pinned into a pocket of some women’s trousers. I found the trousers at a thrift store/charity shop in London. Any insight on this? Date or type?

Thanks!

 

What are the dimensions?

 

I think 78 would be the year (1978).

 

Somebody lost a souvenir or a lucky piece.

 

Yes, SBMC was a Phillippine company now known as ARMSCOR. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armscor_(Philippines)

The "78" is not in reference to the size (or caliber, is it is known) because there are no 78s. But it is common for military contract ammo to have a two-digit date for the year because they stockpile the stuff and want to know how old it is.

I don't know what cartridges the British (assumedly British) used in 1978 -- probably 5.56 or 7.65 NATO. It is hard to tell because it was pretty clearly smooshed somehow to flatten it where the hole is drilled for the safety pin. A really odd charm or souvenir to carry around.

 

I've known plenty of ex-military who had similar items for assorted reasons.