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Booby-trap device?

Darkman

Darkman

Well-Known Member
A friend has a device that we think is an anti-personnel booby-trap device but we are unsure. Unfortunately I have no photos at the moment but hope to get some soon.

It consists of a battery tin (that would hold about 4 modern day "D" size battery cells) with a switch and small light lens (about 3/4"). The battery box has a fitting to attach to a bayonet presumably pushed into the ground. There is a separate roll of trip wire on a former. The trip wire is connected to the external portion of the switch in the battery box and also presumably to a grenade pin at the other end. There is also another plain tin that was possibly to hold spare batteries. Both tins are metal, are painted army green, but have no markings whatsoever. All the components are contained in a pattern 37 web pouch that appears purpose made for the job. The general style and manufacture points to WW2 era, but it may be a little later.

We would like the item identifed if possible (it would be interesting if it was a booby-trap), but also would like to know the purpose of the light. We don't know why you would want a light to come on if someone tripped or activated the device.

Any ideas?

Cheers,

Graeme
 
05.JPG01.jpg02.JPG03.jpg04.JPG04a.JPG

Photos of device.

The tin with switch is about 5 & 1/2" long and about 3 & 1/2" wide.
Very well made of thick gauge brass.

Cheers, Graeme
 
Is that light bulbs inside that device? And is that small bent wire next to the glass a switch?
 
EOD said:
Is that light bulbs inside that device? And is that small bent wire next to the glass a switch?
Click to expand...

Yes it appears that there is a light globe inside behind the lens. The other one may be a spare, not sure as I couldn't take it apart. The bent wire (for attachment of the trip wire) does appear to be attached to a switch.
 
Photoelectric elements do not use light bulbs.
Then it looks much like a tripwire actuated signal light. Maybe a tripwire alarm.
 
Maybe a early practice/training version of a tripwire device?....the UK currently use a light bulb version of the L10 trip flare for training

Tony
 
Howdy Graeme,

I picked up an identical unit from ACCA AGM on weekend, I have since been informed that it is an aiming light for Vickers MG & spare battery container. Apparently they should be in pairs but there was only 1 in the set that I got also???

If you look on the back of the lamp you will see a lug that engages into the handle of a Patt. 07 bayonet then it is stuck in the ground out from the MG, a cord is placed in the small pull switch and activated when firing is to be done to indicate arc of fire.

So I was told!!!

Regards Ozzi.
 
Thanks Ozzi.

Sounds feasible. I will pass the information on. A booby-trap would have been a lot more interesting! We knew the lug was for attachment of a bayonet. The condition is amazing if it was made for a Vickers. Perhaps inter-war years. The webbing pouch on this one looks like it was made yesterday. That's if the pouch is original to the unit, as there would be no room for another lamp in the pouch with the spare battery tin also.

Cheers, Graeme
 
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