Once again, thank you all for the input and offers regarding the 
potential ordinance that was a part of the collections here at the 
Kansas Historical Society.  It is looking more and more like it is NOT 
ordinance, but we are going to proceed as though it were.  We are 
contacting the KBI here in Topeka and will ask them to first xray the 
object and then, if it appears to have a chamber inside (as opposed to 
solid metal), to blow it up in a manner that might at least leave us 
some pieces. If there is ANY question about it's safety that artifact is 
toast as far as I am concerned. Again, thank you all for your sage advice.

Chris Garst
Kansas Historical Society