Yes Carl, it's got a bend in it. All the long shank fuses I ever found seem to have that bend.I can understand the ones that went through detonation bending, but this fuse came out of a shell that was fired but did not explode. Maybe when it hit the water the powder shifted and pushed it over, pretty much what you said. Thanks for the compliment, but I consider myself lucky, not good. Although I do know when to back off, usually.