Schenkl Percussion Fuse.
The Boxer fuse is a wooden-cased fuse similar to its English original.
There is but one type of percussion fuse used in the service. It consists of a brass case containing a small iron hollow cylinder filled with composition, and having at its head a small anvil on which an ordinary percussion-cap is fitted. This cylinder is suspended midway of the case by a small brass screw through the wall of the case. The top of the fuse is closed by a small screw-cap, one side of which is hollowed in a small cavity. Ordinarily this cap is screwed in place with the cavity turned downward, so that in case the cylinder breaks from its fastening the cap cannot be struck as it enters the cavity, while the shoulders bring it up before striking. To prepare it for firing, the cap is unscrewed and reversed, putting its flat side down. When the time-fuse is used in rifled shells, the safety-plug is removed before inserting the fuse.
PRIMERS.
Both percussion and friction primers are used. The percussion primer consists of a quill tube, the upper end of which is split and spread out to form a wafer. The body is filled with fine powder, the lower end being sealed with shellac, and the wafer is filled with detonating composition, covered and sealed with shellac.
The friction primer is a quill tube filled with fine powder, and having in its head a wire igniter in contact with detonating composition. The end of the wire is twisted into a loop for the purpose of hooking a firing laniard. A small preventer-loop is attached to the primer, hooking over a small pin just forward of the vent.
Percussion Primer.
