German WW1 booby trap igniter?

[dano1917]

I guess I would like some opinions on the identification of a German WW1 igniter. the igniter in question is on the egg grenade on the far right of the attached thumbnail. I've heard that this igniter (used mostly on Kugels but also m1917 egg grenades) was a no delay, instant igniter that were purposly left by retreating Germans so that the enemy would pick it up and get blown up instantly when the wire was pulled. This is all word of mouth and would like to know if this is true. They are not real rare (they're around) and thats the purpose that I have been led to believe on the use of this igniter. Is that true? It seems to be generally accepted but looking for opinions on its use. thanks in advance...Dano

 

[engineer]

Nothing but a sales promoting story. It's a "Reibzndschraube" (frcition primer) for firing vintage guns and which accidentally fits on the M1917 eggs.

Cheers

engineer

 

[Madbomber31]

Here are some photo's of the igniters and drawings i hope this helps.

 

[paul the grenade]

This fuze was also used in the american civil war.
check this link.
http://inert-ord.net/gerimp/eggs/spcl/ignitor.html

 

[HAZORD]

That link seems to require a login and password.

 

[blu97]

If you go to the main page you see a blue dot bliking, here you will find the password. http://www.inert-ord.net/

 

[dano1917]

everybody right.

"It appears that all parties in this thread are right to a certain degree. Heres what EJ's ordnance site has to say about the igniter.
"Something worth mentioning is a "fuze" sometimes found assembled to egg and kugel grenades. At a glance it seems a legitimate type and is sometimes described as a "rare" variation. This is incorrect as it appears to be a friction igniter for artillery use, spefically the leicht Minenwerfer (76mm trench mortar). This was used as a BOOBY TRAP device. The Germans would attach these 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."
So it appears that ALL posters in this thread are at the very least "somewhat right". The fact that they were used as booby trap devices lends to the intrigue of this igniter and has carved its place in history. It is so cool when everybody is right. Respectfully, Dano

 

[paul the grenade]

password is
open
1945

 

[dano1917]

pudding of proof

Here's the proof that it is a WW1 item as this pic shows one fresh out of the ground on a WW1 battlefield. Go to the French Diggers link
http://humanbonb.free.fr/indexa.html
then click on Les Diggers link and thumb about 1/2 way down on pics and there it is! And the pic has a French caption, could someone provide translation? Dano

 

[dano1917]

German booby trap

Okay guys, here's the pic of the igniter fresh out of WW1 battlefield soil..Dano

 

[Der_Feldgraue]

If I remember correctly, I saw a pic of a fresh dug out Kugelhandgranate with this type of fuze attached to, but I forgot, where......

 

[Millsman]

Hi Dano. Great thread. I've got a couple of these, one of which I keep in an egg grenade. One is marked LB and the other LJ. Anyone know what the markings mean?

John

 

[dano1917]

Thanks John, I dont know the markings but do know the markings are endless. This piece has always intrigued me, and Jens if you could find that picture with this igniter screwed in a kugel fresh out of the ground I would be most obliged as that would be the validation i've been seeking for years.....Dano

 

[digimax]

It is a friction igniter for the German Mittlerer Wurfmine. Can be used as a booby trap fuse on an Eierhandgranate M1917 as well.

 

[Der_Feldgraue]

I think the igniters for the Mittlerer and Schwerer Minenwerfer were much larger with a larger thread too. The small ones were used for the older types of field guns.

Thats the large one I mean:

http://spaghetti-wars.de/html/gallerien/bilder/D.Bodenzuender%201WK/Reibzuendschraube.html