Wanted: 3" Mortar Parts

[Phillip]

With the restoration of the 3" Mortar Carrier coming along, so far I've found most of a 3" Mortar but I'm searching for the following parts:

- Lower Tube Band;
- Leather Cap;
- Ball end for the tube;
- Firing Pin (not essential but why nor).

Any assistance greatfully appreciated.

[horsa]

Some of the goodies you need for a 3-inch mortar can be found on my sales page. Its all drying up and I wish we still had even a quarter of the mortar gear we once had available.

http://www.visualcollector.com/Tommy...TommyStuff.htm

Still have most of the variations of mortar firing pins and firing studs. Also the launching cartridge extractor tool with webbing frog. And one set remaining of the long carry harness slings for the barrel and base plate. The leather muzzle cover has the quick release setup used in conjunction with the barrel sling. Some items are listed in the weapons section and some with the webbing/equipment section.

Shot below is from the Imperial War Museum and shows the long-carry webbing for the 3-Inch mortar that I was referring to.

[kevin powles]

Hi, Do you just have the long strap with the loop in the end available on its own, I don't need the top half which straps to the barrel, I've attached one of your pics to show what I need.

Thanks Kevin.

[kevin powles]

Phillip, the gunner.net in the uk listed 3" mortar parts, they do the barrel bands, I've attached a pic but the one you want might be out of stock, I made mine as couldn't find one.

[Phillip]

Thanks Kevin & David,

I'd already checked with Ian and he does not have the lower tube bands anymore. If I have to, I'll measure one up and make it.

Great photo - What does the harness for the bipod look like? Looks like it goes around the spike in the feet and then where?

[kevin powles]

Another of David's great photos, loops round the collar perhaps

[horsa]

Hey Philip,

For the carrying harness, I only have that complete set for the barrel and base plate available and don't want to break it up as it would be a lot harder to place the remaining pieces with someone else.

Did you see the firing pins and firing studs for 3-inch mortars further up on the same page?

For reference, the attached photo shows what the bi-pod harness looks like when hooked up. This is a shot from the load bearing chapter of my book Equipment of the WWII Tommy. The weapons book also has a dedicated chapter on mortars but that one focuses more on the weapon and accessories.

[Phillip]

Thanks David,

I purchased Volume 1 of your book "Tommy" from you in about 2002 . Great shot of the Carrying harness, can't say I've seen anything like it before.

I did see the firing pins on your website but until I find the ball end, I'm not sure if I need one. Still tempting, but I'm not sure which version we used.

I have no idea what this was used for but I picked up this piece of webbing up a few years ago, marked F^L but no date. It has a small pad to protect the wearers back as well as what feels like a hard board sewn into the lower area below this.

[horsa]

I'm not familiar with that padded harness. Might be postwar based on the color as well.

Firing pins and firing studs will probably be in stock for awhile since not all that many people need them. For live firing, I use the firing pin style since I hand load cartridges. But wartime most of the launching cartridges had their own built in firing mechanism so the mortars tended to have firing studs. This helped to ensure a firing pin wouldn't fail when needed in action. But both are technically correct for WWII.

On the books, we did a revised and expanded printing of each title. Equipment in 2010 and then Weapons in 2011 and Uniforms in 2012. Each has roughly another hundred pages except for the weapons book which went to 784 pages now.

[kevin powles]

Guys, I don't suppose you have any original 3" mortar carry tube sets available, I have about 12 but need about 10 more for the carrier.

Kevin.

[Phillip]

Hi Kevin,

I have four and need another four for my carrier. They do turn up infrequently, I did find one set in Melbourne last week but the guy did not want to post, I tried begging so he then quoted AUD250 to post across country.

[horsa]

When I still had my T-16 setup as a 4.2-inch mortar carrier, I had to build my own cardboard bomb carriers. Had a bunch of 3-inch pattern but never seen one of the larger pattern 4.2-inch available for sale. There are places you can order rolled cardboard tube custom sized including the wall thickness. Varnish the outside like the early war pattern and they will be water/humidity resistant while on your carrier. Probably work out a lot cheaper as well now that originals have gone up in price so much. Used to be we couldn't sell them for $50 a set but those days are long gone I'm afraid.