US Mk 72 Proximity Fuze And Container

[darren]

Here is a recent addition to my collection, a nice condition US MK72 VT fuze complete with storage tube.

Storage tube stencils:

ONE SUB ASSEMBLY
VTF MK .72-7 <NSD>
ADF .MK.44-1
SAA-RM.3-SB-54

Fuze stampings:

MK - 72 MOD 7 LOT RM3
MODEL B B ML -AV M3/54

On the opposite side there are other stampings that have been crossed out/covered up:

MK 72 MOD 1 LOT 110
MODEL A-A-MD-A0 (Anchor & US)

Nice to have the fuze complete with the original tin but i am pretty sure that there are one or two internal parts of the tin packaging missing to secure the fuze (around the top cone area)? Can anyone confirm if the tin is complete or missing a couple of parts?

Cheers,
Darren

[Slick]

Darren

Unbelievably nice specimen. With the shipping can, to boot. Congrats on the find.

Curious as to whether the fuze can be disassembled, to show the internals and whether the knurling over the lettering is/was the common practice to denote inertness.

Again, a right proper addition to your collection.

Rick

[darren]

Thanks Rick,

The fuze can be disassembled to a certain degree, i will strip it down as much as i can later on and post some more photos.

Darren

[raymeketa]

Darren

Great find! It's hard enough to find a fuze, let alone one with the container.

I too noticed the stippling and wondered about its purpose. I've not seen a fuze with that feature.

Ray

[jvollenberg]

I think the knurling over the lettering is to denote the fuze has been upgraded and is no longer the MOD 1 but the MOD 7. But thats my guess. I have seen several fuzes marked like this, but never found an documentation to prove my theory.

Joe

[darren]

I think the knurling over the lettering is to denote the fuze has been upgraded and is no longer the MOD 1 but the MOD 7. But thats my guess. I have seen several fuzes marked like this, but never found an documentation to prove my theory.

Joe

That would make sense Joe, it really is the only reason I guess why the markings would have been changed.

Darren

[darren]

Darren

Unbelievably nice specimen. With the shipping can, to boot. Congrats on the find.

Curious as to whether the fuze can be disassembled, to show the internals and whether the knurling over the lettering is/was the common practice to denote inertness.

Again, a right proper addition to your collection.

Rick

Could not edit the original post to add the photos so here they are, this is as far as i can strip the fuze.

Darren

[raymeketa]

The Aux Det usually comes out easily since it was probably removed to demil it. Have you tried a left-hand unscrew on the body cylinder?

Ray

[darren]

The Aux Det usually comes out easily since it was probably removed to demil it. Have you tried a left-hand unscrew on the body cylinder?

Ray

Ray, what you see in the photo was easy enough to unscrew by hand. I did try to unscrew the upper body but only by hand and it was too tight. I didn't want to use any tools as I didn't want to end up with grip marks around it.

Darren

[raymeketa]

If you put some penetrating oil on the thread and then use a couple of soft wood blocks, you can clamp the body in a bench vise and then unscrew it by grabbing the steel base ring and plastic ogive. Or, maybe another collector in your area has a fuze wrench??

Ray