WWI 1903 flamethrower?

[Papa G]

Ever hear of it? A few years back while Google Image search's of all things military I happened upon a couple old pictures. It showed a soldier with a mini flamethrower attached to an M1903 rifle, possibly using the bayonet stud, another shot of the soldier demonstrating the device. The pictures were typical grainy lack of clarity type.

Tried looking for it again, cannot find. So has anyone here ever heard of such a thing?

[Rick the Librarian]

As I recall, there was such a "beast", some sort of "mini-flamethrower". If you have a copy of Brophy, I believe it is in there.

[JBinIll]

I bet it sucked working the butts on qualification day

[Dan Shapiro]

Are these the pics ?

[Rick the Librarian]

That's it!!

[Papa G]

Are these the pics ?

Thanks Dan, that's him! I found some info about it. Seems the idea was during close bayonet fighting, the solder would use the flame to confuse/scare the enemy give the soldier an edge over the enemy, but never got past testing.

[Fred]

Isn't that a M1917?

[Dan Shapiro]

Isn't that a M1917?

Yep.

[Fred]

Oh heck, if I would've clicked on and enlarged the close up of the rifle, I would've seen clearly that it was!

[rayg]

Fred the description in the photo says it's a 17 Enfield, Ray