Original Item: Only One Available. Now this is a somewhat rare combination of items! The main feature of the ashtray is an Imperial Japanese INERT Type 89 Combustion Time Fuse, in wonderful condition too! The fuse itself is inert and is unable to be used as a functioning device and is in total compliance per the current BATF standards on ordnance.

Not Available For Export.

Trench art is any decorative item made by soldiers, prisoners of war, or civilians where the manufacture is directly linked to armed conflict or its consequences. It offers an insight not only to their feelings and emotions about the war, but also their surroundings and the materials they had available to them.

Not limited to the World Wars, the history of trench art spans conflicts from the Napoleonic Wars to the present day. Although the practice flourished during World War I, the term 'trench art' is also used to describe souvenirs manufactured by service personnel during World War II. Some items manufactured by soldiers, prisoners of war or civilians during earlier conflicts have been retrospectively described as trench art.

The ashtray consists of a Type 89 combustion fuse with an Imperial Japanese shell casing bowl. The most interesting feature is that the soldier or Marine who made this item had the bowl threaded to fit the already threaded fuse base! The fuse threads into the shell casing perfectly and sits flush with the bottom, almost as if it was constructed this way at a factory.

The fuse is even clearly dated on the nose portion with 8 七 十 昭. This marking is written right to left, and would be read: SHOWA (current reigning emperor) Juu-Nana Nen (17th year of reign - 1942) 8th month (August).

This is the type of fuse that was used on the high explosive projectiles for the for the Japanese 75mm and 105mm Anti-Aircraft guns. The design is one of the last "combustion" type fuses fielded, which were all based on the Bormann Time Fuse as used in the U.S. Civil War. The fuse is made up of brass rings, with a track of explosive powder running through a channel in each. How the rings were rotated would determine how long the delay of the fuse would be. A very simple design, taken to the limit of the technology at the time.

Comes more than ready for display!