How to open an ammunition box without a screwdriver

Posts : 629 Join date : 2009-01-20 Age : 45

Ian Knight breaks open an ammunition box with the butt of a rifle. He then suggested thats what took place during the Battle of Isandlwana. Could someone tell me what evidence he provided to prove this was the case? Or is it speculation.

Hi SAS1

If my memory serves me right during the making of the documentary, Ian Knight forced off the sliding lid with the butt of a rifle, which in turn coursed the retaining screw to bend. Archaeologists had discovered the same retaining screws from the Battle that were bend at the same angle, therefore suggesting that the ammunition boxes were opened in the same fashion. Not necessarily with the butt of a Rifle but he was trying to show that the ammunitions boxes could be opened without the aid of a screwdriver, and therefore showing that ammunition was being supplied to the troops. Just not fast enough.

Posts : 1862 Join date : 2009-03-25

Extract from General Horace Smith-Dorrien- Memories Of Forty-Eight Years Service>

“When I had been engaged at this for some time, and the 1/24th had fallen back to where we were, with the Zulus following closely, Bloomfield, the Quartermaster of the 2/24th, said to me in regard to the boxes I was then breaking open, " For heaven's sake, don't take that, man, for it belongs to our Battalion." And I replied, " Hang it all, you don't want a requisition now, do you? "

Possibly using a Rifle.?

I would think under the circumstances. Anything too hand would have been used to open the Ammo boxes. The bend screws found at Isandlwana certainly do show the boxes were opened in a hurry.

» Official ammunition handbook 1877, including smooth bore and rifled gun projectiles, small arms ammunition and rockets. Details of all artillery ammunition of the period.
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