WW1 British No 101 Mk2 HE Fuze Relic from the SOMME

The N°101 percussion fuze is the first evolution introduced in 1916 with the replacement of the unusual transversal percussion system by a more conventional percussion system where the detonator cap is mounted on an axial graze pellet and the percussion pin (needle) fixed under the fuze head cap, both being separated from eachother at rest by a safety creep spring. The fuze centrifugal safety system (transversal bolt restraining the pellet movement) remained unchanged. A gunpowder relay charge was included under the pellet, and the pyrotechnic chain could be added with a small delay charge.

The fuze body was still in brass (sometimes with a steel cap) with a similar shape to the N°100, the only visible difference being machined circular grooves on the cone face, and a deeper groove at its base used for blocking the fuze on the shell after mounting, by crimping this zone with a hammer and a stamp.

In addition to the different marks (I to IV) several variations of this fuze were introduced during WW1.