What is it? Brass Drum / enclosure

[Boogerman]

Looks like a dispensing drum to hold a spool of wire or string. Anybody know exactly what it is?

 

[robert6715]

Looks like a cutting oil pot made from 2 artillery shells. Fill with cutting oil & stick an acid brush thru the hole in the lid & set it near your mill or lathe.

 

[rlitman]

It's called "trench art". I'm betting it's just an ash tray.

 

[Boogerman]

Someone spent time with lathe to make this come out precision fit.