u/Useful-Hat7461

Buenas a todos, va a ser raro pero este me parece el mejor sitio para preguntar, las imágenes son de una lata tipo sardinas/caballa antigua, me la he encontrado en un paseo por la sierra en la peninsula, en Málaga, se puede leer CANARY ISLANDS en relieve en la lata (lo cual ya me ha parecido raro porque está en ingles) y justo debajo pone ESPAÑA como en curvo, siguiendo la forma ovalada de la lata.

He buscado y rebuscado y no soy capaz de datar la pieza ni descubrir de que empresa puede ser.

Si alguien puede orientarme una mijilla o preguntarle a sus padres o abuelos si les pueden sonar las descripciones que he dado para datar la lata, o ver de que marca es, me ayudaría mucho 🙏🏼🙏🏼

Muchas gracias y un saludo 💪🏻

Hi everyone,

I'm hoping someone here can help me identify a metal fragment I found in a very remote and high-altitude ravine in the Sierra Almijara mountains, near Nerja (Málaga, southern Spain). The area is known for Civil War and post-war Maquis activity, but also had mining and charcoal-making activity during the early-to-mid 20th century.

The piece (see photos 1 and 2): The fragment is heavily corroded sheet iron or steel, with some grey matte areas still visible beneath the rust, possibly suggesting the original surface had a zinc or tin coating (galvanized or tinplate). The metal is thin — typical of pressed/stamped sheet metal construction rather than cast iron.

The key feature (see drawing, photo 3): The most distinctive element is a raised oval embossed relief in the center of the face, surrounded by a rectangular perimeter frame also in relief, with rounded corners. Inside the oval there is a small semicircular raised mount — which I believe was the anchor point for a folding carry handle. I've made a sketch showing the relief pattern, with approximate dimensions of 14.5 cm tall × 17 cm wide. (aprox)

My best guesses: It could be a lid or side panel from a military ammunition box, a tool or equipment case, a miner's carry box, or some kind of field kit — but I genuinely can't pin it down. The embossed oval-with-handle-mount design feels very specific and perhaps recognizable to someone with experience in this kind of material.

Any help identifying the type of box, its likely origin (military, civilian, Spanish, foreign surplus) and approximate date would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

https://preview.redd.it/6pqwd4cvj3yg1.jpg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=418a6f1e29eb5302f609e6d16aabe2c908ffe990

https://preview.redd.it/v7ahw2cvj3yg1.jpg?width=1600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9892433f9988cfc6bf7ce26bc44c5127af307521

https://preview.redd.it/kbmtt3cvj3yg1.jpg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6d1ea743f5d2974e20517bd5ef10f79124da9d43

Lata antigua Identificación