M26A1 Grenade Fuze.

[smokebomb]

Hello

Can someone explain what is the purpose of the hole in the fuze shown in the attached picture ?

Thank You

 

[Slick]

I believe that's for a safing pin.

 

[batonroundcollector]

safety clip is shown around the 'neck' right? could this be a gas-venting hole?

 

[smokebomb]

I don't think the hole has a venting porpose because the grenade fuze ( type M204A1 ) is sealed and produces no smoke, sparks or noise.

 

[smokebomb]

Mr Slick

In the photograph the safety clip is in place, as well as another safety clip nicknamed " jungle clip " around the arming lever, do you have any picture of a grenade or fuze with some kind of pin inside that hole ?

 

[Slick]

While rare, the need to perform maintenance on the fuzes requires the need to block the hammer from striking the
initiator. The extra hole(s) allow for a safing pin to be inserted. Long story long, my father worked in a defense plant
back in the day. One of their functions was to destroy assorted fuzes. A safing pin was inserted in the hole in question, allowing
for the removal of the spoon. Whether that's the intended design, I don't know, but that's what they used it for.

 

[smokebomb]

While rare, the need to perform maintenance on the fuzes requires the need to block the hammer from striking the
initiator. The extra hole(s) allow for a safing pin to be inserted. Long story long, my father worked in a defense plant
back in the day. One of their functions was to destroy assorted fuzes. A safing pin was inserted in the hole in question, allowing
for the removal of the spoon. Whether that's the intended design, I don't know, but that's what they used it for.

Thank you very much for your answer !

So the hole is for a " double " or second safety pin, would that pin be sufficiently strong to stop the striker from initiating the fuze train in case the primary safety clip ( the one with ring ) is pulled out, and the safety lever allowed to get out of the way of the striker ?

Hwy do they needed to remove the spoon to destroy the fuses ?

Just unscrewing them from the grenade bodies and destroy them with some blasting charge would be sufficient, wouldn't it ?

 

[Slick]

As I understand it, they removed the spoons and dumped the fuzes in a long tube that led to an incinerator.
Maybe the spoons wouldn't incinerate. They also demilled(burnt up) the Dragontooth BLU-43. Their main "job" was crafting LAW tubes.

 

[Eodtek]

It's a positive block safety. It's there for QA and EOD purposes. It's also effective for a second safety when booby trapping.