Comments for The Whatziss... answered.

The Whatziss... answered.

2007-03-09T13:45:43Z

...Not! I don't know what it is either - though I agree with those of you who saw it as an azimuth measuring instrument, that might somehow use the sun. All I do know about it is that it's WWII, Soviet, and it dovetailed on to something else, probably an azimuth base of some sort.

This next one, however, I *do* know what it is.

Here's another picture for you people who get so wrapped around scale...

One hint - it's a component of something, not a stand-alone.

Comment from Old Fat Sailor on 2007-03-10

2007-03-10T12:22:45Z

Does look like a screw in fuze, not sure if a delay element went in the center or the powder train went around the helical groove, if the latter then its a delay element itself and not the holder for same.

Comment from MajMike on 2007-03-09

2007-03-09T21:57:14Z

..ya know, like a vent-piece... {scrolling thru Gibbon's to find the correct terminology}

Comment from MajMike on 2007-03-09

2007-03-09T21:52:24Z

screw in replacement insert for the hole where the friction fuze what the lanyard pulls out.

Comment from WereKitten on 2007-03-09

2007-03-09T17:07:41Z

Welp....it would appear that I'm screwed on this one. Of course, that looks like a pretty nice sized screw, so I'm not in such a bad position afterall. *runs from pg17c*

Comment from John S. on 2007-03-09

2007-03-09T15:30:02Z

Looks very much like the internal portion of a WW1 or earlier era artillery time fuze which used a powder train instead of clockwork. Not sure of the mechanics of how they worked, but the various time increments are marked on a cover that fit over a piece like this and were punched or something at the appropriate point to determine the setting. Just a guess.

Comment from wolfwalker on 2007-03-09

2007-03-09T15:08:59Z

All I do know about it is that it's WWII, Soviet, and it dovetailed on to something else, probably an azimuth base of some sort. Hmmm... The USSR in the Great Patriotic War had something of a reputation for makeshift ways of aiming guns. Some of their fighter aircraft had "gunsights" that were no more than hand-painted circles on the windshields. They also had a problem with poorly educated and trained troops. Could this mysterious whatzit have been a dual-mode sight for light artillery: a mirrored and telescoped eyepiece for a gunner who knew what he was doing, and the string thing for someone who didn't? It takes training to read an azimuth; it takes none to line up the string on the target and pray. Now, as to this one: threaded cone shape, concavity on the narrow end... Breech-block off a really early breechloader cannon, before they figured out the interrupted-screw design?