Wirebreakers and Night Sights |
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WilliamS
Senior Member Joined: March 30 2020 Location: Camas WA USA Status: Offline Points: 329 |
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Posted: July 04 2020 at 5:27pm |
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In the bulk lot of tools and parts I recently won, there were these two pieces. I want to verify the authenticity of the wirecutters (as far as I know no one has duplicated the luminous sights) and get a rough value on them in case I decide to sell them to fund more rifles (or for insurance if I keep them, they are pretty neat).
No.1 MkI Wirebreaker The only markings are "R-W 17", a 3 on the other side near the cam, and three either 7s or half-broad arrows on the loop, cam and clip. The luminous sights: The front are rear are marked "2", the front base .030, and the bottom of the front sight is A with a superscript letter (maybe E) followed by D or LD.
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Goosic
Senior Member Joined: September 12 2017 Location: Phoenix Arizona Status: Offline Points: 8792 |
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I will bet you those sights have Radium in it just like they used in old wrist watches. A tiny box of radiation...😶
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A square 10
Special Member Donating Member Joined: December 12 2006 Location: MN , USA Status: Offline Points: 14452 |
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wonder how close to another half life they are getting to ? when will they get so dim you can no longer see them ?
the ones on my carry pistol are very bright in the dark
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WilliamS
Senior Member Joined: March 30 2020 Location: Camas WA USA Status: Offline Points: 329 |
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Nailed it in one... radium tubes as it appears.
According to what I can find about old radium products, it'll be another 1500 years before it hits the first half life. The fading is instead caused by the decay of the zinc based paint medium, which apparently becomes less fluorescent as the radiation from the radium attacks it. I might be able to get some tritium paint to touch them up with, which will stay bright for around ten years. They lost their glow a long time ago, now they are completely dark even in a darkroom.
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The Armourer
Senior Member Joined: June 23 2019 Location: Y Felinhelli Status: Offline Points: 1246 |
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I have never seen a wire cutter like the one in your picture - the two types used seem to be 'hand held' or 'rifle mounted'.
Is this No1 wire cutter complete ? Does it look like it is 'rifle mounted' ? The No1 Wire cutter that I am familiar with is a very different beast The No.1 Mk.1 wire cutter was introduced in 1916. It could be attached to Lee Enfield, Ross and P 17 rifles. The jaws close when the rifle is thrust forward and lifted against the wire. The mechanism is spring-loaded to return the jaws to the open position when tension is released. Apparently this type of cutter was ineffective unless the wire was tight, and wouldn't cut the hardened steel German wire. Most of them were discarded in favour of hand-held cutters. In
1917 the No.1 Mk.11 cutter was introduced. It has 3 rivets along the longer
horn, rather than the 2 rivets of the Mk.1. T
C.H.Pugh Ltd, Whitworth Works, Tilton Road,
Birmingham
Wire breakers were attached to the bayonet
and trapped the wire at the muzzle which was then broken by firing the rifle,
the bullet cutting the wire. |
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WilliamS
Senior Member Joined: March 30 2020 Location: Camas WA USA Status: Offline Points: 329 |
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You're right, I had not realized that wire cutter and wire breaker are not interchangeable terms for these. This would be the No1 MkI Wire Breaker and as far as I can tell is complete.
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The Armourer
Senior Member Joined: June 23 2019 Location: Y Felinhelli Status: Offline Points: 1246 |
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You're right, I had not realized that wire cutter and wire breaker are not interchangeable terms for these. This would be the No1 MkI Wire Breaker and as far as I can tell is complete. [/QUOTE]
Thank-you I have never seen a wire-breaker, I don't suppose you send/post a few photos from all angles for my library ? |
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WilliamS
Senior Member Joined: March 30 2020 Location: Camas WA USA Status: Offline Points: 329 |
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Certainly! I'm out of town right now but I will take better pictures when I get back. I don't have a bayonet to mount it on yet so I won't be able to get a picture of it mounted up.
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The Armourer
Senior Member Joined: June 23 2019 Location: Y Felinhelli Status: Offline Points: 1246 |
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Thanks - look forward to them. (you could always let it have a new home - I have a nice bayonet that it would fit perfectly)
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The Armourer
Senior Member Joined: June 23 2019 Location: Y Felinhelli Status: Offline Points: 1246 |
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This is how it mounts :
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WilliamS
Senior Member Joined: March 30 2020 Location: Camas WA USA Status: Offline Points: 329 |
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Here's some better pictures.
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WilliamS
Senior Member Joined: March 30 2020 Location: Camas WA USA Status: Offline Points: 329 |
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The Armourer
Senior Member Joined: June 23 2019 Location: Y Felinhelli Status: Offline Points: 1246 |
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Thanks for the pictures - I'm still up for a purchase or trade, just let me know what value you put on it.
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