The honor guard handed your family a bag of brass. Most families put it in a drawer because nobody tells you what you are supposed to do with it.
This is what you can do with it.
After a military burial, the organization that provided honors — American Legion, VFW, or another veteran organization — usually gives the family the empty casings fired during the three-volley salute. We polish those casings, engrave them with your loved one's name and dates, and send them back as tributes you can hand to family and friends.
We take real pride in this work. It is some of the most meaningful engraving we do.
Our process
We handle the shells carefully and polish them in our media small batch tumbler until they look new. Then we engrave them with a dark black mark that contrasts sharply against the polished brass, with your choice of text.
We do not use additives or abrasives — the marking is done with the laser alone. Rotary engraved shells are often hard to read for lack of contrast. That is not an issue here.
How many shells
Select the number you are sending in. The base service includes up to 21 brass shells. If you have more, choose the appropriate quantity from the dropdown. If you have more than we list online, contact us for a custom quote.
Need more shells than you received?
We can supplement with additional shells. We will do our best to match what you send, though we cannot guarantee it — they will be either 308 or 30-06 casings. We polish and engrave them alongside yours so they match as closely as possible.
Planning your text
We have provided several examples. The more lines and letters per line, the smaller the text. A layout that works well:
- Line 1: full name, with rank added here if you want it
- Line 2: birth and death dates — if the months are long, common abbreviations help
- Line 3: service branch, or a nickname you want memorialized
White glove service
Our premium option, and the one most families choose. We call you, answer every question, and walk you through the process. We also send a pre-paid postage package for returning the shells — put them in the provided packaging, drop it in your mailbox, and we take it from there.
If you are arranging this in the middle of a hard week, this is the option that takes the logistics off your plate entirely.
Ways to display or carry them
Acrylic display stand
Many families distribute shells to close relatives and friends after the service. Our black acrylic stand, designed in house, displays a single shell on a shelf, desk, or curio cabinet in a way that highlights the engraving. Ships flat and assembles with no tools using the included directions.
Key ring conversion
If you want shells that can go on a keychain or a necklace, we have a precision process for that. Offered per shell, so you can do a handful rather than all of them.
- Option A: we drill the shell on the small end and install a brass key ring for attaching to a keychain or lanyard
- Option B: we remove the primer on the large end, drill out the pocket, and install a brass eyelet and split ring for a keychain or necklace
Common questions
What do you do with shell casings from a military funeral?
The most common answer, and the reason this page exists: have them polished and engraved with your loved one's name, dates, and branch of service, then give them to the people who were closest to them. A stand turns one into a desk or mantel piece; a key ring turns one into something carried every day.
Is this the same as a 21 gun salute?
Not quite, and the distinction matters to a lot of families. A three-volley salute is the rifle volley fired at a funeral by the honor guard. A 21 gun salute is artillery, reserved for heads of state and certain dignitaries. The casings you were handed at a graveside service are almost certainly three-volley rifle casings — which is exactly what this service is for.
How many casings will I have?
It varies with the size of the honor guard. Many families end up with somewhere between 3 and 21. Our base service covers up to 21, and we can add matching shells if you received fewer than you want to give out.
What should I have engraved on them?
Full name and rank on the first line, birth and death dates on the second, branch of service or a nickname on the third. That layout fits comfortably and reads well from across a room.
How do I display them?
Our acrylic stand is designed for exactly this — it lifts the casing at an angle so the engraving faces the room. Families also mount them alongside a folded flag or a photo, and the key ring option lets someone carry one.
Shipping your shells to us
- Ship in a box. We have had every carrier damage or lose items sent in shipping bags — please use a box
- Include a copy of your order confirmation, and any last-minute instructions clearly marked
- If you want engraving in a specific location, masking tape on the item can indicate orientation, size, and other details
Ship to:
KEYSTONE ENGRAVING
CUSTOM SHOP
10722 FAIRGROUNDS RD #1
HUNTINGDON PA 16652
If you have questions before you send anything, call us. We would much rather talk it through first — there is no rush on our end.
Commemorating a hunt or a competition instead? That is our single shell casing engraving service.
