Anti decapitation device (wire cutter)

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thomasgtravis
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Anti decapitation device (wire cutter)

Post by thomasgtravis » Sun Oct 29, 2017 5:40 am

I am looking for an anti decapitation device for my 42 GPW. Anyone know where I can find one or a set of plans etc? Thanks
Tom Travis
US Army Retired

1942 GPW


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33rdsignal
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Re: Anti decapitation device (wire cutter)

Post by 33rdsignal » Mon Oct 30, 2017 4:14 am

Weld or bolt metal angle iron to your bumper and then make a brace. No plans needed.

Do what they did and improvise.
Chad Phillips
33rd Signal Construction Battalion
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1943 Chevy K-43 (G7173)
1944 Truck Engineering Corp. 1 Ton Trailer (Wood)
1942 Dodge WC-52
1942 Willys MB

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W. Winget
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Re: Anti decapitation device (wire cutter)

Post by W. Winget » Mon Oct 30, 2017 4:32 am

I made mine clamp to the bumper VS drilling or welding the jeep. Jeep Draw has plans, I recommend NOT using 2" super thick angle Iron, as it's distractingly large and heavy, something around 1-1/4" "T" bar is a nice pattern adding two round stock braces welded to the center bar gives it stability.

Mine had a center bar with a bottom channel that fit around the front of the bumper, with a nut welded over a burned hole I could screw in a bolt to clamp it in the center, (from the side it would appear like a C-Clamp with the angle Iron bar welded to the non-moving top end) and run the brace arm clamps on the rear lip of the bumper with nuts welded atop holes to clamp inside the bumper VS atop it. You had to flex the support bars to get them to mount behind the bumper as the center mount encloses the front of the bumper.
Jeep Draw might still have the drawings I sent years ago.
Makes it removable without ugly holes, etc. even GI mechanics had taste if they had time to work on things....
V/R W. Winget
Looking for 1918 Standard B 'Liberty' truck parts

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33rdsignal
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Re: Anti decapitation device (wire cutter)

Post by 33rdsignal » Mon Oct 30, 2017 4:46 am

Footage of GIs installing wire cutters

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwljzlnwthw
Chad Phillips
33rd Signal Construction Battalion
https://www.facebook.com/33rdSignal

1943 Chevy K-43 (G7173)
1944 Truck Engineering Corp. 1 Ton Trailer (Wood)
1942 Dodge WC-52
1942 Willys MB

15T UH-60 Blackhawk Crew Chief, US Army 2000-2006

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Re: Anti decapitation device (wire cutter)

Post by thomasgtravis » Mon Oct 30, 2017 4:52 am

Thanks
Tom Travis
US Army Retired

1942 GPW

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Jon
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Re: Anti decapitation device (wire cutter)

Post by Jon » Mon Oct 30, 2017 11:13 am

Here's the article from Army Motors, although not for an MB or GPW it does give an idea of height of the front stake.
Other photos are of Al's to give you an idea of how to attach it so it's removable.

Hope it helps,
Cheers
Jon
Attachments
wirecutter02.jpg
wirecutter02.jpg (125.83 KiB) Viewed 1669 times
wirecutter01.jpg
wirecutter01.jpg (122.33 KiB) Viewed 1669 times
wirecutter03.jpg
wirecutter03.jpg (78.12 KiB) Viewed 1669 times
Army_Motors_wire_cutter.jpg
Army_Motors_wire_cutter.jpg (219.77 KiB) Viewed 1669 times
Jon Rogers
AUSTRALIA


http://jeepdraw.com JeepDraw Home Page & Drawings
Parts Colours Page http://jeepdraw.com/PART_COLOURS.htm
1944 GPW195611 20531384 ACM-2 17781
1942 MBT 19433W

goodyear
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Re: Anti decapitation device (wire cutter)

Post by goodyear » Wed May 23, 2018 1:10 pm

Found photos in Boise for sale, I like the design of this wire cutter.


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43 GPW, navy?

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Hartofoak
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Re: Anti decapitation device (wire cutter)

Post by Hartofoak » Thu May 31, 2018 9:58 am

That Youtube video shows them using several tools from the GMTK. A 410-F-3390 -hacksaw, 41-H-527 2lb hammer, 41-W-488 - 12" crescent wrench, 41-W-625 double hex offset wrench and a 41-F-886 10" File. The hacksaw could be a Forsberg No55. Thanks for posting it "33rdsignal".
MB 298781 DoD: est. 01-19-44 (ex British Army 1958)
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Re: Anti decapitation device (wire cutter)

Post by Gordon_M » Thu May 31, 2018 11:15 am

I always thought long and hard before mounting what is basically a blade on the front of any of my trucks, so I never put one on my jeeps.

I did mount one on some of my Dodges, but I used something much shorter and just ran it up the side of the headlight brush guard, secured with the same bolts. That way the whole thing was set back from the front bumper and less of a hazard.
Gordon

1941 Highway Trailer K-38
1944 Iron Fireman T-36 Snow Tractor
1986 Nolan Road/Rail trailer

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Chuck Lutz
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Re: Anti decapitation device (wire cutter)

Post by Chuck Lutz » Thu May 31, 2018 12:14 pm

I used some 2" angle iron for mine. I eyeballed the angle at the top, cut it, bent it and welded it. I ground an edge to it where the angle was. I welded a plate to it at the bottom and drilled four holes in the corners. I made a similar plate to go behind the bumper so I could use four bolts to attach it. I did weld on another chunk of steel that reminded me of the one on the M1C (is that right?) MG mount for the jeep where the travel arm is attached to keep the weapon from flopping around and intended on using another pair of 3/4" angle iron pieces to bolt to that once I drilled holes for that. The other ends would have neatly fit between the slats on the grill and bolt to the two holes in the GPW front crossmember.

However, since I wanted to take it off easy, I never bothered to attach the two stabilizing legs to it and actually decided to use four wing-nuts on the four long bolts that attached it to the bumper to make removing/installing it even easier.

I painted it OD of course before mounting it with the exception of the top angled-forward section which is white with a black stripe. I designed it so that it is just the same height as the top bows when the top is on them.

Enclosed are a couple pics...I have since mounted the bolt heads OUT and have the Wing Nuts in BACK.

Cutter FRONT.jpg
Cutter FRONT.jpg (92.54 KiB) Viewed 1388 times
Cutter REAR.jpg
Cutter REAR.jpg (118.94 KiB) Viewed 1388 times
Cutter TOP.jpg
Cutter TOP.jpg (90.61 KiB) Viewed 1388 times

By the way, it will be a slightly dangerous obstruction in a tight garage so I do take it off sometimes but the rest of the time, when it is in the garage, I have taken to wrapping a couple old white hand towels around it as that will help you and the Mrs. as well as others from getting scratched by it as it does stick out forward about 6" or so. You want some decent padding and the white towel makes it easier to see as well.
Chuck Lutz

GPW 17963 4/24/42 Chester, PA. USA 20113473 (USA est./Tom W.)
Bantam T3-C 1947

thomasgtravis
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Re: Anti decapitation device (wire cutter)

Post by thomasgtravis » Sun Nov 11, 2018 5:13 pm

Thanks guys. I had help from a friend from Normandy. Great fun building it with the language barrier!
Tom Travis
US Army Retired

1942 GPW


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