Interesting flea market found

[Tmine35]

Picked today up at flea market this interesting fuze. Outside are only cyrillic markings, but on base British markings - must be made in UK for Russia in 1916?

 

[Tmine35]

Being no expert on British ordnance I wonder if the maker's marking B.S.C. is British, or something else?

 

[spotter]

BSC is the makers monogram for the Bethlehem Steel Company in America,The fuze is possibly for the 3in Russian Shrapnel projectile which was manufactured in the USA for Russia during WW1

 

[Tmine35]

Thanks Spotter, that explains to me why I didn't see any typical British markings on this item.
The fuze came with a rusty, fired, shot shell ( don't know it it originally was in this one but fits well anyway ) that I have to clean in the next to see if there are further markings.

 

[spotter]

maybe this will help with the projectile id ,sorry but no pictures of the fuze

 

[Tmine35]

Thanks Spotter but this is not the one. The fuze has larger diameter threads = smaller fitting ring. Hope to send pics of the shell when cleaned.

 

[Dave83]

I found the right fuze

your Fuze is a english N 85 Fuze !!

See the following Pictures

It was used for the 13 pdr and for the 18 pdr gun !!


Regards David

 

[Tmine35]

Yes, looks the same of construction. But most likely still made in USA ( RE: 75mm Field guns model 1917 ( British 18 pounder ) made in USA during WW1 ), though year 1916 of fuze is a bit early.

 

[spotter]

The No85 is an american made fuze for the british its based on the american M1907

 

[doctor]

Hi
The time ring and the base fuze are not the same as N85 used on British shells
, not the same fuze but an adaptation of N85 for another type shell
Imposiible to screw it on 3" russian, not the same threading eye
Certainly for export but which shell and country?

 

[Tmine35]

Considering the cyrillic markings and being found here in Finland I'm 100% sure it was exported to Russia.
It fits perfectly on a fired 76,2mm schrapnel shell which was sold together with it. I'll clean the shell and see if there are any markings and post pictures to the forum later on.

 

[Birdseye]

Picked today up at flea market this interesting fuze. Outside are only cyrillic markings, but on base British markings - must be made in UK for Russia in 1916?

This it?

From the book Shrapnel Shell Manufacture (will post a link shortly)

 

[Tmine35]

No, this is quite different. The one Dave83 posted is more the same as mine.

 

[John D. Bartleson Jr.]

??

Well it is a PTTF no matter who made it.
John

 

[Tmine35]

More pics

Here some pictures more. I managed to find this round from a Finnish Army 1941 dated manual among other rounds captured from Russians.
The shell is described 76,2mm short schrapnel "British pattern" and the fuze with cyrillic markings described also as "British pattern".

The shell base has some stamps that definitely are not Russian, but also from top to left 3 markings that might be cyrillic.
The shell base stamps look to me rather US than British, so possibly this entire round was made in USA and exported to Russia during WW1?

 

[dano1917]

flea market fuse

I guess I am sticking my neck out A tad here, but seeing that this may have been a US made fuse just intrigues me enough to throw my two cents worth in. This fuse strikes a remarkable resemblence to the US model of 1907 scoville fuse, less the adaptor. Dan

 

[doctor]

HI
The US fuze Model 1907 and Mk III do not have the same diameter of threading as the N85
N 85 is of design identical but with threading brought back to 2 in for British adapter shell