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Latest addiitions - French 58mm trench mortars of WW1.

super7 said:
Dano, true, but finding the fuze is another matter :tinysmile_twink_t:

Regards, Jan

http://www.westernfront.nl
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Yeah Jan, I would have to think it would be very hard to find. What a classic piece of ordnance. There is a big one on the cover of "WEAPONS OF THE TRENCH WAR" by Anthony Saunders (an excellent book by the way). Appears to be a spigot mortar?? I am really becoming interested in WWI French ordnance as their early stuff (pre 1915 is really crude). It is cool how the basic ball grenade evolved from the model 1777 to the eventual m1914 bracelet grenade which was all but obsolete by 1915
 
I would love to have 1 or 2 of those flying pigs show up at my house sometime.WOW what a great find.Those are so cool I would catalog them in as WAY COOL ha ha.
vinny
 
WEAPONS OF THE TRENCH WAR by Anthony Saunder
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Dano, got it on my bookshelf :tinysmile_shy_t: but I have not been able to find a decend drawing showing measurements. Luckely the fins are there to make a decend
copy but would love to have a drawing showing any details. For instance: how thick were the original fins and were the edges straight cut or rounded?

Regards, Jan

http://www.westernfront.nl
 
flying pig

Jan, I exhausted all my resourses (limited as they are) and could not find good drawings or specs of the pig fins. Hopefully some member can help. What a fine project you have to work on. The flying pig has to be one of the most iconic pieces of ordnance from WWI. As recognized as they are I would be sure there is schematic information but I could not locate any. The mortars of WWI, like most weapons of The Great War started as archaic devices and evolved into precision weaponry. Here is a pic of my WWI mortar related items I have to date. The lower left of photo is nose of the French WWI 240mm trench mortar with the P.R. 1916 fuze, relic to be sure. Beside the flying pig I would really like to find a nice toffee apple projectile. Good luck on your project my friend.......Dano
 

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Dano, managed to find the following scan on the internet. Also good reference to determine what is still missing in my collection. BTW, got my 'toffee apple' 2 inch trench mortar from the museum
shop in Albert some 15 years ago. It was apparently one of a batch of trench mortars retrieved from a British WW1 gallery near a place called Sailly-au-Bois in 1995. This gallery was exposed after
a collapse of one of the main tunnels. Odd looking thing and an excellent display piece. Have not come across one in a similar good condition and certainly not for the price I paid for it.

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Regards, Jan

http://www.westernfront.nl
 
With the making of some new fins I will probably decide to get the mortars color coated as well. Anybody out there who knows what the original color for these French trench mortars should be?

Regards, Jan

http://www.westernfront.nl
 
Hi, they were painted horizon bleu with markings in white like type, maker and date.
 

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