RAF_Louvert Posted 15 April , 2011 Share Posted 15 April , 2011 . Greetings All, Back in January of this year I purchased the following old WWI item, (for the princely sum of 99 cents US), to use as a paperweight on the desk in my library: I am curious which one of you learned lot will be the first to identify precisely what it is, (and claim bragging rights for being so clever). I already know the item's true identity and purpose, but I wonder just how obvious it is to those in the know. It's a little under 2" in diameter and is solid brass. Ready...set...GO! Lou . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 15 April , 2011 Share Posted 15 April , 2011 It is a bit of a fuze, I believe. -Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAF_Louvert Posted 15 April , 2011 Author Share Posted 15 April , 2011 . Ah yes, Daniel. But from what exactly? Lou . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 15 April , 2011 Share Posted 15 April , 2011 . Ah yes, Daniel. But from what exactly? Lou . As they say in Brooklyn....I got nuttin'. Over to the experts to bring it into the end zone. -Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike_H Posted 15 April , 2011 Share Posted 15 April , 2011 It is the top of a Russian time & percussion fuse. Regret that I can't give a model or pattern number but definitely WW1. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAF_Louvert Posted 15 April , 2011 Author Share Posted 15 April , 2011 . Yes indeed Mike, a WWI Russian time/percussion fuse top it is. Any idea on the size and type of ordnance it was fitted to? Lou . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunner Bailey Posted 15 April , 2011 Share Posted 15 April , 2011 It's from a Russian 75mm shell. Very similar to the French version but with a slightly longer case. I had one dated 1917 and the complete fuze was a work of art. Magnificent piece of engineering, totally unlike the later utilitarian commie stuff. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 15 April , 2011 Share Posted 15 April , 2011 It's from a Russian 75mm shell. Very similar to the French version but with a slightly longer case. I had one dated 1917 and the complete fuze was a work of art. Magnificent piece of engineering, totally unlike the later utilitarian commie stuff. John Doubtless manufactured by Faberge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAF_Louvert Posted 15 April , 2011 Author Share Posted 15 April , 2011 . It's from a Russian 75mm shell. Very similar to the French version but with a slightly longer case. I had one dated 1917 and the complete fuze was a work of art. Magnificent piece of engineering, totally unlike the later utilitarian commie stuff. John DING DING DING! We have a Winnaaaa! Actually three winners, since John, Mike, and Daniel all contributed to the overall correct answer. And for those who like as much info as they can get, the fuse cap in question came from a 75mm shrapnel round of Russian manufacture and used on the Eastern Front. Here is a very good diagram showing all: And here is a another illustration, courtesy of Wikimedia: Well done all. Tell 'em what they've won Don! "Because Daniel, Mike, and John each gave parts to the correct answer, they will each be receiving the satisfaction of knowing just how well-versed they are in WWI armaments, and are also now full members of the 'Smart Fellers' club." And Centurion, I believe there is a Faberge mark on the side of that fuse...NOT! Cheers! Lou . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cnock Posted 15 April , 2011 Share Posted 15 April , 2011 Hi, graduation is from 1 to 24, and the fuse is designed by the French Schneider firm this type of fuse was also used by the German army Cnock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAF_Louvert Posted 15 April , 2011 Author Share Posted 15 April , 2011 . Thanks for the additional info Cnock. You're a full member of the 'Smart Fellers' club as well. Lou . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunner Bailey Posted 15 April , 2011 Share Posted 15 April , 2011 Doubtless manufactured by Faberge Actually if you saw the supurb workmanship of the brass and aluminium rings below that cap you might think so. Probably the highest quality fuze Ive ever seen. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAF_Louvert Posted 15 April , 2011 Author Share Posted 15 April , 2011 . Quite right John. It is fine craftsmanship, and even more so when you consider the massive numbers they had to produce. Lou . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 16 April , 2011 Share Posted 16 April , 2011 Can anyone show a cutaway section of the fuze? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 16 April , 2011 Share Posted 16 April , 2011 Actually if you saw the supurb workmanship of the brass and aluminium rings below that cap you might think so. Probably the highest quality fuze Ive ever seen. John I mase my comment because back in 1967 Punch did a special spoof supplement to mark the 50th anniversary of the failure of the Bolshevik coup. Included was a 'photo' of a Sputnik made in Fabergé's work shops! However not all pre revolutionary workmanship was up to that level. There was a scandal because the wings of some license built versions of French aircraft tended to fall off in flight. It turned out that one businessman was making extra profit by shorting on some of the ingredients used for the glue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAF_Louvert Posted 18 April , 2011 Author Share Posted 18 April , 2011 . Can anyone show a cutaway section of the fuze? Here is the requested cutaway, courtesy of the Passion and Compassion 1914-1918 website: Also, here is the link to the Russian fuses section of that wonderful website: Russian WWI Fuses And Centurion, there were far too many examples during the Great War, (and other wars), of greedy businessmen cutting corners to make an extra buck at the cost of their countrymen's lives. They should have been shot for it, IMHO. Lou . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunner Bailey Posted 18 April , 2011 Share Posted 18 April , 2011 I mase my comment because back in 1967 Punch did a special spoof supplement to mark the 50th anniversary of the failure of the Bolshevik coup. The reference is a little obscure for me Centurion. However, believe me when I say these fuzes were supurb. The best quality of any ordnance piece I've seen from the Great War. I do have a photo somewhere. If I can find it I'll put it up. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAF_Louvert Posted 18 April , 2011 Author Share Posted 18 April , 2011 . John, Excellent photos showing the quality of those fuses are also on the website I posted the link to in my last note. Lou . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now