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Friction Igniter Something worth mentioning is a "fuze" sometimes found assembled to Egg and Kugel grenades. At a glance is seems a legitimate type and sometimes described as a "rare" variation. This is incorrect as it appears to be a friction igniter for artillery use, specifically the leicht Minenwerfer (trench mortar 76mm). This was used as a booby trap device. The Germans would attached them to Kugels and leave them behind when abandoning old positions, with the intent that the French would find and use them. The igniter has no delay, so they would explode the moment the fuze was pulled. This tactic was used again by the Germans, with their M39 egg grenade on the Russian Front, during WWII. (Thanks Nicolas F. for the ID!) An interesting reference to this fuze, can be found in "Rebels & Yankees - The Fighting Men of the Civil War", William C.Davis - 1989, showing it with a group of Confederate artillery fuses. How it came to be associated with items produced 50 years earlier is a bit of a mystery. (Click on the fuze) |
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| Reproduction Mle.1913 |
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| Another fuze to watch for is this reproduction Mle.1913 (above center). Unlike an
original fuze body, it is a single piece cast from solid bronze and is very hard to distinguish from an authentic fuze using just a photograph. Even in person it is very convincing. The easiest feature to use for identification is the gas vent hole near the top. It is a blind hole, only going in a short distance. At the bottom end, the flame port is solid as well, with just a small cosmetic indent. (However, note the original fuze below it, which appears to have original material or old residue of some sort plugging the hole.) If you can compare to an original, the repro has slightly smaller overall dimensions as well, but that is only apparent when placed side by side. The repro fuze, as well as a possible faked Kugel body, are also described on the GRM website. Follow this link to read about that. |
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| 05.06.11 |
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