n cherry Posted 2 November , 2006 Share Posted 2 November , 2006 As I've seen both versions used what do people think is the correct version? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevem49 Posted 2 November , 2006 Share Posted 2 November , 2006 As I've seen both versions used what do people think is the correct version? I do not think it matters as Verey (lights) is a variant of Very. I think they used the word becasue it could mean intense - so Ver(e)y Light - Intense light. stevem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 2 November , 2006 Share Posted 2 November , 2006 invented by E W Very US naval ordnance officer. Verey confusing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 2 November , 2006 Share Posted 2 November , 2006 In Treatise on Ammunition 1915, in the index they are Verey's lights. within the text they are Very Signal cartridges fired from the Very pistol. Mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonraker Posted 2 November , 2006 Share Posted 2 November , 2006 invented by E W Very US naval ordnance officer. Verey confusing Verily so. Moonraker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 2 November , 2006 Share Posted 2 November , 2006 I suspect the extra 'e' was someones [very sensible] attempt to distinguish between very=extremely and very=light, pistol etc, which, once the device was adopted, could easily result in verbal or written confusion. For this reason, even though clearly incorrect, I favour Verey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 2 November , 2006 Share Posted 2 November , 2006 Were there other makes of signal flare pistol used as well? Webley seems to come to mind - did they all take the same size of flare? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 2 November , 2006 Share Posted 2 November , 2006 I always thought the term Very pistol was a generic term for all makes of flare pistol Mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gporta Posted 2 November , 2006 Share Posted 2 November , 2006 Can't locate the source now, but I recall a published better from a soldier, who wrote "Fairy Lights" to refer to Very Lights. Gloria Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Bennitt Posted 2 November , 2006 Share Posted 2 November , 2006 Were there other makes of signal flare pistol used as well? Webley seems to come to mind - did they all take the same size of flare? Just found this on a quick google search. cheers Martin B http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-weapon...nal-pistols.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 2 November , 2006 Share Posted 2 November , 2006 MartinB, thanks for this, a very interesting collection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n cherry Posted 3 November , 2006 Author Share Posted 3 November , 2006 Very, Verey many thanks to the pals who've responded..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 3 November , 2006 Share Posted 3 November , 2006 Shed some light on it for you then! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyE Posted 4 November , 2006 Share Posted 4 November , 2006 Just in case tempers flare...I thought I would throw some light on the subject. As previously pointed out, the origin of the name is the inventor Very, and so that is the correct spelling. However, although the 1915 Treartise uses both spellings, by 1917 the packets are labelled "Cartridges 1 Inch Pistol" with no mention of Very. The pistols were made by a number of manufacturers apart from Webley, Cogswell & Harrison and Chubb Lock & Safe Co. for example. They came in two calibres, 1" and 1 1/2". Initially they were titled "Pistol, Signal, Very" but by mid 1916 this seems to have changed to "Pistol, Signal, 1 inch" or "1 1/2 inch". I don't know why the name Very was dropped from both cartridge and pistol: perhaps the patent ran out? Original rounds are hard to find, although I have a couple, including a 1917 1 inch proof round. Regards TonyE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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