Norman,
Does your documentation state the fate of the fuze at the turn of the century? Unofficial documentation I have states it was declared 'Obsolete' in 1901. I was discussing this recently and informed that it would be most unusual for such a store not to be recycled or destroyed within 2 or 3 years of being declared obsolete. If the fuze was declared 'Obsolete for further manufacture' or 'Obsolescent' it could explain it surviving a further 13 years.
TimG
Tim,
That is my understanding too. Once 'obsolete' the store should normally be returned to 'Ordnance' for disposal/reduction to salvage/etc. In a document by Hogg on Numbered Fuzes he states "the Number 4 Fuze was therefore declared
obsolete by 10707 of 28 Aug 1901". Where 10707 is the List of Changes paragraph. In fact the particular paragraph does not use the term Obsolete at all. It has the unusual sentencing as shown below:
10707.- Fuze, graze, No. 4. (Mark I.) /L/ Metal.
To be withdrawn and replaced by "Fuze, percussion, D.A., with cap, No. 1, Mark II." for service, and "Fuze percussion, D.A., impact No. 13, Mark II." for practice.
The use of the above-mentioned "graze" fuze will be discontinued.
Officers concerned having fuzes of this description on their charge, will return them to store for transmission to Woolwich and demand "Fuzes, percussion, D.A., with cap, No. 1, Mark II," in lieu....
That might seem like Obsolete to you and me but I guess it is List of Changes speak for something just short of Obsolete (but not OFM or Obsolescent which also have particular meanings). Curious indeed.