Using socks to keep rifles in working order, WW1

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Using socks to keep rifles in working order, WW1

A winters fighting expedient. A sock with the toe cut off and soaked in oil, used to cover the muzzle and keep a British soldiers rifle in good working order. When the rifle had to be used, the sock was slipped off on to the butt. Date: 1915

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Media ID 14191701

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

Condition Knitted Knitting Muzzle Order Rifle Rifles Sock Socks Upkeep Warm Weapons

EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures a simple yet ingenious solution employed by British soldiers during the harsh winter conditions of the First World War. In the image, a sock with the toe cut off is seen soaked in oil, serving as a makeshift muzzle cover for a rifle. This expedient measure was used to keep the weapons in good working order in the frigid temperatures of the battlefield. The year was 1915, and the soldiers of the Western Front were braving sub-zero temperatures, mud, and rain. The harsh conditions took a toll on their equipment, including their rifles. To prevent moisture from entering the barrel and damaging the gunpowder, soldiers would slip these oil-soaked socks over the muzzles of their rifles when not in use. When it was time to engage the enemy, the sock would be easily removed and discarded, revealing the ready-to-fire weapon. This photograph is a poignant reminder of the resourcefulness and resilience of the soldiers during the First World War. The image also highlights the importance of maintaining weapons in optimal condition, even in the most challenging of environments. The use of a simple sock transformed into a vital tool for the soldiers, demonstrating the ingenuity and adaptability that characterized the soldiers' experiences during this pivotal period in world history.

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