Antique & Militaria

**VERY RARE**WW1 1917 British C.H. Pugh Ltd Birmingham No.2 MK 1 Trench Warfare Barbed Wire Breaker / Cutter For Attachment To S.M.L.E Rifles. Sn 23719 - 23719

This is an original piece of WW1 dated trench warfare equipment. Barbed wire posed a significant obstacle to attacking troops: it slowed or prevented progress across the battle field and made soldiers easy targets while they were tangled or being cut free. British rifle fitted wire breakers / cutters were 1st approved for service in 1912 and developed throughout WW1. This is a very rare WW1 dated British wire breaker / cutter No.2 MK 1 for attachment to S.M.L.E rifles (see pages 364 to 366 of ‘The Lee Enfield Story’ by Skennerton). A copy of an original WW1 photograph of a British Soldier carrying an S.M.L.E with a wire breaker / cutter attached is illustrated in image 1. The No.2 MK 1 was designed for attachment to rifles without bayonet attached the cutter in the image is most likely the No.1 MK 1 which were designed to be fitted to rifles with bayonets attached (see page 363 of Skennerton’s book). The all steel construction wire breaker / cutter is in excellent fully functioning condition. It has the correct steel horns jaw and hinged clamp with wing nut & bolt for rifle attachment. The metal work is excellent with even patina and is crisply stamped ‘C.H. Pugh Ltd Birmingham England 1917’(C.H Pugh Ltd are recorded as makers of British WW1 wire breaker / cutters on page 367 of Skennerton’s book). The price for this rare piece includes UK delivery. Sn 23719

£575.00