Identifying Army matériel

[Cpl Rootes]

there is a world pace sticking champion wow, my ambitions have changed

[von Poop]

Next question:

??

[Owen]

notavodoodolly is it?

[Cpl Rootes]

i am officially stumped on this one Adam.

[von Poop]

Clue time.
errr.
Soddit.
It's a Japanese Type 3 Anti-Tnk Grenade, the hemp hairs are to stabilise it in flight. Designed to attack the roof of vehicles, presumably unsuccessfully. Though at the very least Germany and Russia seem to have experimented with these drogue grenades.

Japanese Type 3 H.E.A.T. Grenade - Inert-Ord.Net


NEXT QUESTION OPEN TO ONE AND ALL.

[jacobtowne]

This is a bit of a curve ball, since I cannot provide a definite identification, although perhaps someone else can.

The photo, from Pieikalkiewicz's book (see Book Board), shows a SOE agent in training, a staged photo no doubt.

What is the make and model of the pram?

Just joking. The revolver is obviously "Not English Make," as many of these were stamped. There are a few telltales that suggest the make and model, if not the caliber, of this (I am sure) American arm.




JT

[Gerry Chester]

Hi JT,

The caption reads "One of the main functions of SOE training is to learn to handle unusual situations. If necessary an SOE agent must be able to use a pram as a shooting stand."

With typical German thoroughness a plant in Solingen was given an order to manufacture 100 Mk I "Gepanzerter Prams" - the specification calling for storage of ammunition and captured Compo Boxes. Another important feature being a coaxially mounted machine-gun facing aft. Another feature was having a supply of wigs for use by male agents!

The guns were always to be of Allied manufacture to enable agents to bluff there way out of potential problems when questioned by Red Caps.

The answer to the gun's identity, I proclaim it to be a WW I Smith & Wesson.

[jacobtowne]

Hello Gerry:

The caption reads "One of the main functions of SOE training is to learn to handle unusual situations. If necessary an SOE agent must be able to use a pram as a shooting stand."

I see you have a copy of the book. I posted a response days ago, but it was evidently lost in the shuffle, so here's another try.

Given the size of the frame and bore of the revolver in the photo, I'd guess Smith & Wesson .44 Hand Ejector or Colt New Service.

There were plenty of these in Britain at the time. Until the U.S. entered WWI in 1917, the British were purchasing both models of large frame revolvers in .455 caliber. Again in 1940, the British Purchasing Commission was in the U.S. (prior to Lend-Lease) buying handguns from manufacturers, gunshops, pawn shops, and everywhere else they could be found, in a dizzying array of models and calibers (which caused no end of confusion at British Ordnance).

In addition, we sent 20,000 cal. .45ACP M1917 revolvers to Britain as "surplus equipment," a decision which the U.S. likely rued when our own handgun shortage was discovered on December 8th.

Your identification of Smith & Wesson is certainly possible. The front sight blade looks semi-circular, which suggests a Smith. Another item of identification is the thumb piece for the cylinder latch. The one on the Colt is pulled to the rear to unlock the cylinder, while on the Smith it is pushed forward.

Here a a couple of photos for comparison.


The first is a M1917 Colt from my collection, the second photo (not my guns) shows both.








JT

[von Poop]

What's that?
How many were built?

[von Poop]

whoops