Snail Drum Question

[MikeP]

Nothing will fly out if you open it.
There is a humongus flat coiled spring that is safely welded inside a cup with only a shaft protuding.
Break that 100 year old spring and you have a paperweight.

Where you can get hurt is the lever coming off one of the little studs and slashing up yor hand or fingers.
Drums were viewed with suspicion by those who used them for real.