British Army wire cutter No.2 Mk I which were approved on 11th April 1916. The wire cutters were made by the British Company C. H. Pugh Ltd., of Birmingham, England. The wire cutters could be mounted on the British P14, the American M1917, and the Canadian Ross Rifle. While the rifle mounted wire cutters were a good idea in theory, in the trenches they found to be impractical. The wire cutters were difficult to use, and made the soldiers using them sitting ducks to enemy fire. Most that were issued, were never used. This pair seem to have been used during battle as they were found in Mametz wood by a local collector during the 1980s. As you can see from the photographs, there is still mud remaining in the object which I think adds to the item. The cutters have been stabilised and so shouldn't rust too much more. This is a rare piece of kit and have been found in a very famous part of the Battle of the Somme.
