Stokes Mortar Question

[GLCC74]

I am curious to know the paint scheme and markings for WW1 U.S. Stokes Mortar rounds. I have seen quite a bit on the English made versions, does anyone have any information on this? Thanks in advance.

[robinb]

I have an original paint US 3" STM round. The body is dark green. I'll have to look to see what color the markings are. White I think.

 

[GLCC74]

Thank you, I appreciate the information. 

[robinb]

[GLCC74]

Awesome, thank you! Mine is a grey color. I have another that I am restoring now, these seem to getting hard to find today.

[AustinO]

Robin yours looks like it actually might be a faded blue, since it says practice.  The markings are consistent to what I've seen on others.  The only original non-dug "live rounds" I've seen have had battleship grey paint and black text.

 

 

Looks like Canfield has a brief primer on the painting schemes in his article here: 

http://www.worldwar1.com/dbc/smortar.htm

 

[GLCC74]

I think after reading these comments that mine is also a faded blue. It looks a grey color to me, but in a certain light, possibly blue as well. 

[AustinO]

Interesting!  With the flash it does indeed look blue. No text on the body anywhere?  Robin's example is righteous, a true beauty.  I wonder if yours was a late US production example that never got the markings, towards the end of the contract after the war had already ended or something? 

[GLCC74]

I have looked over mine, I do not see any trace of stampings or marking as those on RobinB's. Unfortunately, I do not know it's history. 

[SubgunFun]

Those look great. I'd love to find one for my collection. I have an old range pick up that's rusted/pitted pretty bad and no fuse. I still like it. Any markings on the ignitors? The one I have only has "Winchester" on it. I'm curious if the practice versions had anything back there at all.

[GLCC74]

I don't see any markings on the ignitor. I am restoring a rusted version, most likely similar to yours, where its missing the fuse head and pitted. I do resin casting, so I made a fuse head for it, turned out pretty good.  

[Inertord]

An original practice round from 1927. It still has the sand loading inside the body. The body finish is a very dark blue under bright light, looks black colored otherwise. I would imagine that the original paint/color pigments used, have been changing/fading over the last 100 years.

[GLCC74]

Very nice! Wish mine had the markings as well. Question on the pull ring, what type of pin is used? 

[Inertord]

Split Cotter type pin with standard grenade ring for the period of manufacture. Also the fuzes had a leather sealing washer. 

[robinb]

Here's all three that I own. They all have that forest green paint, but the one at far left also has traces of blue, which was applied before the stencils.

[GLCC74]

Very Nice! I have not seen so many nice condition rounds before, I am so used to seeing the dug versions. 

[AustinO]

17 hours ago, GLCC74 said:

Very Nice! I have not seen so many nice condition rounds before, I am so used to seeing the dug versions. 

 

Likewise, way more experienced with dug ones! Yours are fantastic Robin! I wonder if the paint on them was lead, and faded to a green/grey from blue?  

 

[illinigander]

If Robin wants to be my photo go-between again:  I have a large copy of US ORDNANCE-  MARKING OF TRENCH MORTAR SHELLS & FUZE  (It also lists the paint formula)

                                                                                                                                                             TRENCH WARFARE SECTION 

                                                                                                                                                                      DEC 7 1918 

illinigander

                                                                                                                          

[robinb]

Send them over. I'll be happy to post them.

[GLCC74]

Awesome! Thanks for letting us get a look at that.