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Flare Trip Wire Mk1
- Thread starter Panzerbr
- Start date
Chris 42 RQ
Well-Known Member
Scrap metal !
The reason it is very unusual to find these complete with the top ring and the striker mechanism is that they have a scrap metal value and therefore get taken for scrap, it is very unusual if not rare to find the top rings.
The striker mechanism is not so unusual to find as they can be very difficult to remove from the bakelite/Plastic pot.
On the base of that potshould be a pivoted arm with a slot like hole in the centre where the firing pin sits trapped until the arm is swung either left or right thus releasing the striker to ignite the flare mixture contained within the pot.
Yours appears to be a very early model as I have only seen black plastic/Bakelite bodied ones.
The reason it is very unusual to find these complete with the top ring and the striker mechanism is that they have a scrap metal value and therefore get taken for scrap, it is very unusual if not rare to find the top rings.
The striker mechanism is not so unusual to find as they can be very difficult to remove from the bakelite/Plastic pot.
On the base of that potshould be a pivoted arm with a slot like hole in the centre where the firing pin sits trapped until the arm is swung either left or right thus releasing the striker to ignite the flare mixture contained within the pot.
Yours appears to be a very early model as I have only seen black plastic/Bakelite bodied ones.
trip flare
The top for the mk 1 trip flare is made of tin plate (bit like a lid off an old coffeee jar with a big hole in it) with a thin sheet brass disc soldered over the hole, which burns away when the flare is ignited. Both this and the release mechanism will have both corroded away over time. The trip flare used in the 70s/80s/90s was slightly larger in all respects and was made of black bakelite with a heavy brass top. (these tops are sometimes passed off as being off 68 grenades)
Hope this helps
Hangarman
The top for the mk 1 trip flare is made of tin plate (bit like a lid off an old coffeee jar with a big hole in it) with a thin sheet brass disc soldered over the hole, which burns away when the flare is ignited. Both this and the release mechanism will have both corroded away over time. The trip flare used in the 70s/80s/90s was slightly larger in all respects and was made of black bakelite with a heavy brass top. (these tops are sometimes passed off as being off 68 grenades)
Hope this helps
Hangarman
Looks like the Indians still make the Mk 1 trip flare. Apart from the colour(!) its just how the flare would have looked when new. Check the link below
http://ofbindia.gov.in/products/data/ammunition/gr/18.htm
Cheers
Hangarman
http://ofbindia.gov.in/products/data/ammunition/gr/18.htm
Cheers
Hangarman
