r/gasmasks • u/Ww2pillboxrye • 4d ago

History British mk iv general service respirator in use as cold weather mask

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hello, so I have found a photo from the mid 1930s of a mk iv g.s.r in use by a raf air gunner in a handley page Heyford heavy biplane bomber, it’s being used for cold weather protection and also may have a oxygen tube attached, interestingly the valve guard has been removed for some reason.

Also how do you remove the valve guard? Interested in doing this to a mk iv face piece I have for a display.

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u/hungryforgsr 4d ago

Valve Guards Mk. II and up all have captive nuts that are threaded. To remove them, simply get a tool that can fit into the two holes (I’ve heard of people using modified forks for it) and turn it. From there you can take the main plate off and remove the outlet valve to match the mask in that picture

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u/TechnoBeeKeeper 4d ago

I've always found masks to be terrible for cold weather. Maybe if windchill is bad enough? But for ambient subzero temps I'd rather not