New acquisition-ID opinion

[Jolly Green]

Just bought this at a local gunshow.
Was labeled "Vietnam".
Priced kinda high. Offered half. Up $50. Down $25. Sold.
My question is do you think it is VC/NVA made or altered Japanese?
No markings. Kinda crude.
Thanks for any input guys!

 

[vinnyw]

Nice find.Does seem to have pretty much the quality of the jungle made stuff I have seen ,but they were all alluminum.Kind of looks Jap and thr fuse works simular.My 2 cents.Very interesting piece.Please forgive my spelling.
Vinny

 

[stecol]

It looks as an alteration applied by VC's to many little ordnance to convert them in AP mines; the pressure plates is very similar to the one in the picture.



Regards
stecol

 

[Jolly Green]

Thanks Stecol. I'd love to find one of those babies!

 

[weberoed]

Yes that is a VC mine. I have several pictures of that body being used as a mine, grenade, and launched grenade. Each has a different fuze used for its application. The fla plate you see on top the body is also seen in other mines = like shown in stecols post

 

[US-Subs]

Nice find.Does seem to have pretty much the quality of the jungle made stuff I have seen ,but they were all alluminum.Kind of looks Jap and thr fuse works simular.My 2 cents.Very interesting piece.Please forgive my spelling.
Vinny

I've seen a number of reports in regard to Japanese items showing up in VN. At the end of WWII the Japanese withdrew from China and left everything behind. The Chinese had little or no industrial base at the time, so they took everything as stockpile. If you want to find good photos of Japanese ordnance in the US National Archive you look under captured enemy equipment - the Korean War. My guess would be that 10 years later they did like everyone else - use your old crap to buy influence with poor countries - give some of it away. It worked for us and the Soviets, why not China as well.