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unknown switch

kiwieod

Well-Known Member
still looking for info on this unusual switch.a copy of the ww2 british NO.6 switch.the strange thing about these is the snout thread is 7.74mm(.304) and the thread pitch is 1.0mm which makes them smaller than the US and british ones(and obviously not compatible)
original british one(green)shown for comparison
 

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Just a quick observation, even though there is minimal writing on the instructions, I note the weight required to trip the item is in Kg instead of Lbs. Could it be a later version after introduction of metric units? Regards Ozzi.
 
A friend of mine in the US has the exact same one, he believes they are CIA issue.
Can you post photos of how the internals work?
 
heres some photos of the inside.these switches also come with a tiny brass slotted screw to hold it down.this might be a clue to their age as slotted screws haven't been used in a very long time(although you still find them in some applications)
they certainly have that CIA sterile look.the cadmium plated finish and nylon string would suggest 1960s?
maybe some other sneaky organization mossad,MI6,etc?
 

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This looks like a Brit No 6 MK 1 pressure release to me. They were also used by the OSS and can be found in various sabotage manuals of the time. For some reason I can not get the pictures to post, but yours looks just like the Brit fuze. But is not a CIA item.
 
The green one is a British No 6 mk 1, the unpainted one is not, that is the one that is supposed to be CIA issue.
 
the switch in question is very different from the british one(size,snout thread size,it would not be shiny cadimium finish for combat situations)the packaging has no markings which would not happen for something in army service.the oss version of this switch has differences as well,see john brunners book OSS weapons
what proof do you have that's its not CIA?
 
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