Original Item. Only One Available. The M14 mine "Toepopper" is a small (56 mm [2.2 in] diameter) anti-personnel land mine first deployed by the United States circa 1955. The M14 mechanism uses a belleville spring to flip a firing pin downwards into a stab detonator when pressure is applied. Once deployed, the M14 is very difficult to detect because it is a minimum metal mine, i.e. most of its components are plastic. Because of this, the design was later modified to ease mine clearance with the addition of a steel washer, glued onto the base of the mine. Like all deactivated ordnance, this mine is Not Available for Export.

In order to activate the M14, the base plug is removed and discarded and an M46 stab detonator is screwed into the base of the mine. Then the mine is placed into a shallow hole in the ground (flush with the surface) and the pressure plate is carefully rotated from its safety position to the armed position using the special arming spanner supplied in each crate of mines. Finally, the U-shaped metal safety clip is removed from the pressure plate by pulling on the attached cord. At this point, the mine is fully armed. When deployed by the US, M14s are often laid together with other mines in their inventory i.e. the M16, M15 or M19. In a "mixed minefield" the anti-tank mines protect anti-personnel mines and vice versa. Similarly, M14s can be laid among other mine-types manufactured by different nations e.g. alongside the PMA-2, VS-50, Valmara 69 or TM-62.

This is a very good example of the M14E1 which is painted green with bright blue at the top. The “safety clip” is still retained with a small rope keeping it attached to the mine. The top of the mine is embossed:

MINE APERS NM M14E1
WITH FUZE INTEGRAL
PARTS MFD BY (LOGO)

(LOGO) - 3

We are unsure of the maker’s identification. This is a great example overall, the very first “toepopper” we have offered.

Ready for display!