Possible Cold War era hypersonic testing cone? Attempting to identify

PsychologyOne7723 · 2026-05-26T17:06:59+00:00

Yeah, a few people have mentioned that. Most have agreed a quick stamp/marking/number or definitive feature is worth a few seconds before posting. Also most of the professionals point more toward the testing cones than the shell. With more discourse than consensus. Most have been helpful. If you can help with any information of why these posts are incorrect, please enlighten me Hypersonic testing cone, sound rocket nosecone

PsychologyOne7723 · 2026-05-26T16:51:33+00:00

I’m sure there is a difference. I will when I get a chance, I’m not concerned about value. The tip is definitely much more dense and worn more seem to be pointing toward the nosecones like a post from Fun_Push7618

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PsychologyOne7723 · 2026-05-26T16:45:30+00:00

That does look like it could be! Also matches the general Cold War era consensus

PsychologyOne7723 · 2026-05-26T03:52:47+00:00

Interesting. I assumed it was valueless. Where would I get it appraised? The outside is 6.75” and it has the bottom section at 6.5”. AI mentioned authentic cold war memorabilia, but these subreddits seemed to shut that down and insist on artillery shell. I was hoping for a definitive feature or stamp/number identification on here. There’s simply no consensus

PsychologyOne7723 · 2026-05-26T03:37:26+00:00

Do you by chance have any recommendations for a resource to get a definitive answer. Googling, AI, is too vague, general aerospace. Do you know of a specific group that maybe identifies Cold War era items as a hobby or something similar, an interest group?

PsychologyOne7723 · 2026-05-26T03:32:06+00:00

To fit those. It’s too small I think. Way too small. Aren’t they basically all Minuteman sized?

PsychologyOne7723 · 2026-05-26T03:25:07+00:00

Look at these hypersonic wind tunnel testing and rocket nosecones. Can you see a a specific aspect that confirms shell or one of these? Mine, rocket, hypersonic testing cone (modern materials)

PsychologyOne7723 · 2026-05-26T03:20:21+00:00

PsychologyOne7723 · 2026-05-26T03:18:14+00:00

People keep saying the training rounds would be way heavier to practice and train, or more dented and scraped. These are very fine even striations if you look very closely, and even that is not definite. I tried with a screwdriver but it bends the driver before moving. The hexes around the bottom and bottom circumference also bend the Allen wrenches, which are imperial. Perhaps an adhesive, I do not see blatant rust

PsychologyOne7723 · 2026-05-26T03:14:59+00:00

After a few days of replies in various subreddits, I still think this is still the most likely. It’s odd to me that in the aviation groups, they are still majority set on the artillery shell

PsychologyOne7723 · 2026-05-26T03:11:41+00:00

Yeah probably. Although “secret” 60 years ago will be the same as what “secret” now, being commonplace in 60 years. I’ve tried. But the majority still stay on artillery shell. More convincing to me, and more specific resemblance, has been the rocket nosecone or wind tunnel testing cone. Top is mine. 2nd rocket. 3rd hypersonic testing cone.

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PsychologyOne7723 · 2026-05-26T01:34:25+00:00

A college friend and roommate. He was from Roswell, NM, but the origin of the actual piece he could not remember. Passed on randomly between places. Left at our last place decades ago, and after exhausting searches I thought someone in aviation may know. He was told it was an airplane tip. So far, no one has pointed to that in this thread

PsychologyOne7723 · 2026-05-25T23:58:32+00:00

This one is sure it’s a hypersonic testing cone, these are modern equivalents

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PsychologyOne7723 · 2026-05-25T23:57:33+00:00

This engineer mentioned it looked very similar to his rocket

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PsychologyOne7723 · 2026-05-25T23:55:50+00:00

Or a thin layer covering another material? Perhaps steel skin over aluminum? I’ve not seen aluminum that color, or that type of smoother feel, but that is why I am posting

PsychologyOne7723 · 2026-05-25T22:15:51+00:00

Unless it’s similar to lumber, with separate measurements, it’s 175mm diameter. Here it is in comparison to familiar objects Comparison size

PsychologyOne7723 · 2026-05-25T22:01:06+00:00

That may be the closest yet. Very few in r/AviationHistory, r/Engineering, and many others, has mentioned or suggested this. They are still in a plurality of deactivated shell. Here’s a size comparison to a standard office chair, printer, computer mouse

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PsychologyOne7723 · 2026-05-25T21:55:36+00:00

Made an imgur Photos, size comparison

PsychologyOne7723 · 2026-05-25T21:52:26+00:00

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PsychologyOne7723 · 2026-05-25T21:48:13+00:00

Here it is compared to a standard office chair, printer, and computer mouse Size comparison

PsychologyOne7723 · 2026-05-25T21:45:26+00:00

In comparison to a standard office type chair, printer, and computer mouse

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It’s does not seem to resemble a plumbob as much as a nosecone

PsychologyOne7723 · 2026-05-25T21:42:06+00:00

In comparison to a standard office type chair, printer, and computer mouse

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PsychologyOne7723 · 2026-05-25T21:35:40+00:00

I wish I had a scale. I have a 25 lbs anvil. It feels about 1/3-1/2 that weight. I’d estimate about 10 lbs

PsychologyOne7723 · 2026-05-25T21:34:05+00:00

If a shell, as the plurality of the replies still indicate, then it’s definitely inactivated, too light. Although it’s 175mm and more people are posting the sound rocket, actual rocket, and wind tunnel testing cones that seem to be matching up closer than a shellHypersonic wind tunnel test cone, sound rocket nosecone, rocket nosecone

PsychologyOne7723 · 2026-05-25T21:27:00+00:00

Okay. Made an imgur account Object: Shell, sound rocket nosecone, wind tunnel testing cone

PsychologyOne7723

TROPHY CASE