Page 293 - (DK) Smithsinian - Military History: The Definitive Visual Guide to the Objects of Warfare

291

Bayonet lug
Six-round tubular magazine Cocking slide
▲ WINCHESTER TRENCH GUN The Winchester Repeating
Date 1897 Arms Company commissioned
gun-designer John Moses
Origin US Browning to develop a pump-
▼ NAILED COSH The simplest trench-fighting Weight 8lb (3.6kg) action shotgun, and he produced TRENCH-FIGHTING WEAPONS
Date 1916 weapons were clubs and Barrel 20in (51cm) the M1897. Its six-round magazine
truncheons, often—as in
Origin UK this example—with nails Caliber 12-bore made it extremely useful to the
or spikes added to increase combat infantryman.
their lethality, and usually
with a retaining loop. Cross-guard
Sheet-steel
hilt
Double-
edged blade
▲ GERMAN “ERSATZ” This short, double-edged
KNIFE BAYONET bayonet, developed privately
Date 1917 to fit the Mauser GeW’98 rifle,
doubled as a combat knife, and
Origin Germany many German soldiers bought
3
Weight 7 ⁄4oz (220g) one for themselves.
1
Length 10 ⁄4in (26.1cm)
Horse-shoe nail

▲ FRENCH TRENCH KNIFE This was a simple stabbing and
▲ BRITISH SPIKED CLUB This club, hand-whittled from Date 1916 slashing weapon with a double-edged
blade, a steel cross-guard, and an
Date c.1916 hardwood, incorporates both Origin France unadorned wooden grip, perhaps
horseshoe nails and a stabbing
Origin UK made at Laguiole in the Aveyron
spike in its enlarged head. It also département of south-central France.
has serrations to improve the
grip, and a wrist strap for security.
▶ NO. 36 MILLS BOMB
Safety pin
Date 1915
Origin UK
Weight 27oz (765g) Spring-
Wire
3
cutters Length 3 ⁄4in (95.2mm) loaded firing
lever held
Grenades became more effective when down by
reliable time-fuses became available. The safety pin
British Mills Bomb, with its “pineapple”
Bayonet casing filled with a TNT-based explosive
mount called Baratol, was the first of its type,
and was widely copied.
Conical Manufacturer’s
pommel nut initials and date Cuts to promote
fragmentation

◀ AMERICAN KNUCKLE- This combination weapon’s
DUSTER TRENCH KNIFE conical pommel nut was
Brass Date 1918–45 designed to puncture the
knuckle- Origin US human skull. The spiked
duster grip knuckle-duster made a punch
Weight 17 ⁄2oz (500g) potentially lethal, while the
1
Length 22in (56cm) blade was used to slash or stab.