No. 85 TIME & PERCUSSION FUZE

When supplies of the No. 80 fuze weren’t being delivered quickly enough in the early part of WW1, the USA were asked to help and they offered a modified version of their ‘time & percussion fuze‘ Model 1907M.  The change was to provide the fuze with 2-inch standard thread, to match the British design.  This was accepted by the UK, and thousands were eventually supplied as a direct alternative to the British No. 80.  The major manufacturer in the USA of the new fuze was the Bethlehem Steel Company, and their ‘B.S.C.’ is commonly found on the No. 85 fuzes.  The detonator mechanism is completely different to any British fuze, and has a rotating firing pin held in a circular container with various locking pins enabling firing pin to move into a ‘live’ position when the shell is fired.  Any fired examples found on the battlefields of Europe are invariably damaged internally, but this example is UNFIRED, in very good condition with the firing pin and its container accessible and also has two of the locking pins and springs present.   A diagram of the fuze mechanism is included with the photos.

The stampings are:

“B.S.C.  No. 85  LOT 744  1915”

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