Nose Pistol No. 38 Mks I, IM, II, IIM, III and IV (Service)

Description: The pistol is made entirely of mazak, a zinc-base alloy, and consists mainly of a body, striker, and vane cap. The upper pistol body has four slots for loacting the safety pin, which passes through the vane cap and rests in front of one of the parts of the pistol body, thus preventing the rotation of the vanes. The lower end of the pistol body is of reduced diameter and fits into the detonator.

Around the body are twelve depressions, which hold the tab locking device. The stri-ker and pressure plate are cast in one piece, with a threaded hole in the top of the stri-ker to receive the arming screw. On the top of the pressure plate there is also a stop pin to prevent the vane cap from being screwed down too tightly. An aluminum shear wire passes through the striker and the pistol body. The vane cap has four vanes integrally cast with it, and it is riveted to the vane screw. In the side of the vane cap is a small hole to accommodate the safety pin. Mks IM, IIM, III, and IV have a pair of spring-load-ed safety blocks under the pressure plate.

Operation: When the bomb is put in the plane, pressure plate. The Mk III is like the Mk IM except that the shear wire is of brass. The Mk IV is the same as the Mk IIM, but has a brass shear wire.

Figure 134 - Nose Pistol No. 38 Mk III