*British, WW1, Stokes 3-Inch Mortar Bomb, with Original No.146 Fuze, Inert*
A genuine British First World War Stokes 3-inch mortar bomb, measuring approximately 42 cm in overall length with a body diameter of c.7.5 cm. The bomb retains its original perforated tubular tail unit, characteristic of early Stokes mortar design, and is fitted with an original British No.146 brass fuze.
The body shows remnants of original service-applied paint beneath heavy oxidation, consistent with long-term storage or recovery. The bomb body is hollow and completely inert, with no explosive content, and the fuze is non-functioning and for display purposes only. This example remains an impressive and substantial piece of early trench-warfare ordnance.
Historical Note: The Stokes mortar, designed by Sir Wilfred Stokes and introduced in 1915–1916, revolutionised infantry support weapons during the First World War. Lightweight, simple, and capable of rapid fire, the Stokes mortar became a decisive weapon on the Western Front, allowing infantry units to deliver high-angle fire into enemy trenches, dugouts, and strongpoints.
Early Stokes mortar bombs utilised perforated tubular tails, as seen on this example, which allowed propellant gases to vent evenly to stabilise the projectile in flight. The No.146 fuze, introduced during the latter half of the war, was widely used on Stokes mortar ammunition and represents an important stage in the development of British mortar fuzing systems.
Stokes mortars and their ammunition laid the foundation for all subsequent British and Commonwealth mortar designs, with the basic concept continuing into the Second World War and beyond.
*Condition* The mortar bomb displays heavy surface corrosion, pitting, and oxidation, consistent with age and period use. The body shows cracking and surface losses, and the paint finish survives only in fragmentary areas. The fuze retains its form with visible wear and corrosion. Overall condition is entirely consistent with an authentic WW1 ordnance artefact. INERT and empty. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
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