Original Items: One Set Only. One of the most quintessential items made famous during the Vietnam War was the M-18 Claymore Antipersonnel Mine. We have one to offer which was once a live M-18 AP Mine which was neutralized and made safe by U.S. Military EOD to be converted into an M-33 Practice Mine. It comes with all the components of a real Claymore kit packed in an M7 bandoleer.

The M-18 AP Mine was converted to a M-33 Training version by EOD Personnel, making it an inert training aid. Some inert mines were green with a light blue band, while others were completely blueIt does not contain an explosive or pyrotechnic filler of any kind. It is packed in a Claymore bag with wire spool/ wire with connectors, an M57 "clacker" firing control, and an M40 circuit test kit.

This example is very nice, and has the look of a well-used piece of equipment. The mine itself was once a live, active Claymore which was rendered INERT for training purposes. It still retains the original fold out support legs as well as the wire connectors. The backside of the mine was made to be removed, revealing the interior (along with the deadly shrapnel balls!) There are some cracks and chipping on the body of the inert mine most likely from being dropped.

The M57 clacker appears to function as expected, the blasting cap and wire is complete, though the connectors are corroded, and we were not able to get the test kit to light up. The bag is in very good condition but unfortunately the closure snaps are no longer functional.

Overall a very nice complete condition set of a rare and essential Vietnam Era training set.

The M-18 Claymore

The M18A1 Claymore mine has a horizontally convex gray-green plastic case (inert training versions are light blue or green with a light blue band). The shape was developed through experimentation to deliver the optimum distribution of fragments at 50 m (55 yd) range. The case has the words "FRONT TOWARD ENEMY" embossed on the front of the mine. A simple open sight on the top surface allows for aiming the mine. Two pairs of scissor legs attached to the bottom support the mine and allow it to be aimed vertically. On both sides of the sight are fuse wells set at 45 degrees.
Internally the mine contains a layer of C-4 explosive behind a matrix of about seven hundred 1⁄8-inch-diameter (3.2 mm) steel balls set into an epoxy resin.
When the M18A1 is detonated, the explosion drives the matrix forward, out of the mine at a velocity of 1,200 m/s (3,937 ft/s), at the same time breaking it into individual fragments. The steel balls are projected in a 60° fan-shaped pattern that is 2.0 metres (6.6 ft) high and 50 m (55 yd) wide at a range of 50 m (55 yd). The force of the explosion deforms the relatively soft steel balls into a shape similar to a .22 rimfire projectile.These fragments are moderately effective up to a range of 100 m (110 yd), with a hit probability of around 10% on a prone man-sized 1.3-square-foot (0.12 m2) target. The fragments can travel up to 250 m (270 yd). The optimum effective range is 50 m (55 yd), at which the optimal balance is achieved between lethality and area coverage, with a hit probability of 30% on a man-sized target.[4]

The weapon and all its accessories are carried in an M7 bandolier ("Claymore bag"). The mine is detonated as the enemy personnel approaches the killing zone. Controlled detonation may be accomplished by use of either an electrical or non-electrical firing system. When mines are employed in the controlled role, they are treated as individual weapons and are reported in the unit fire plan. They are not reported as mines; however, the emplacing unit must ensure that the mines are removed, detonated, or turned over to a relieving unit. The 100-foot (30 m) M4 electric firing wire on a green plastic spool is provided in each bandolier. The M57 firing device (colloquially referred to as the "clacker") is included with each mine. An M40 circuit test set is packed in each case of six mines. When the mines are daisy-chained together, one firing device can detonate several mines.

The mine can be detonated by any mechanism that activates the blasting cap. There are field-expedient methods of detonating the mine by tripwire, or by a timer, but these are rarely used.