British grenade reference books

[Bannerman]

Hi all,

The first reference book on British grenades I bought was Ian Skennerton's Introduction to British Grenades, published 1988. It helped me a lot; I was able to identify a Mills gren I'd bought earlier for next to nothing as a super-rare No 23 Mk 111 (sadly sold on 8 years ago).

My next lot of Mills gren education was delivered to me, about 4 years ago, in spades via Dave Samson's website.

Last summer, I purchased "Grenade" by Landers, Bonney and Oakley. Superb book! To date, it has helped me make at least one highly informed, expensive and important addition to my collection and avoid a couple of potential disasterous, rip-offs! I would welcome a follow-on, covering the L series etc. up to the present.

In the past year, I have learned much and used a huge amount of info from you on this forum. I thank you all...

Now then, I am contemplating buying The Grenade Recognition Manual Vol 2 (British & Commonwealth Grenades & Accessories). The deal amounts to $70. Specialist books obviously cost, for very good reasons, however, this amount leads me to a bit of careful consideration, and I would appreciate your advice.

So.. Please, those of you out there who have bought this book and used the info in it, please would you let me know what you think about it; No literay reviews necessary: I don't care about who gets the girl in the end! Just whaddya think? Advise me, make me hurt my credit card, if you think it's the right thing to do! Thanks in advance.
Regards
Bruno

 

[paul the grenade]

send a pm to sgtlynn.
he has writen all the grenade recognition manual series.
he may still have some copies for sale. its well worth having.
paul.

 

[wichitaslumlord]

The Grenade Recognition Manual is an excellent book. It is well worth having in my opinion. Grenade is also a very good book as you already know. Pat

 

[US-Subs]

This book and the others in the series are well worth the money. The books grew out of the website, which was a collaboration much like this one. They were well researched by the author and he had many good people looking over his shoulder. I'm pleased to have them in my library.

 

[Bonnex]

Bannerman,

I knew Ian when he was pulling together his book, although was not able to influence it; edited Darryl's book for him and wrote chunks of Rick's book so a brief view from that angle.

All the books have some minor errors (naturally) but Ian's has most. It is a very handy 'have in the pocket' guide for new collectors and for that reason would benefit from a revised edition.

Darryl's is an excellent book for identification with clear and concise descriptions. Happily it suffers from being one of series and no collector can resist, nor should, getting the whole set. Buy it and the others.

Rick's book was always meant to be a serious reference book for collectors, museums and 'official' purposes. It does that very well but time and production costs limited total consistency across all entries.

Rick's book touches on the 'L series' and Darryl helped him with this. Although I wrote the introduction to the L series I wasn't able to provide detailed info because of my, then, 'Saturday afternoon soldiering' connection with the military. Even today it wouldn't be possible to write about in-Service 'L Series' without MoD clearance.

 

[Bannerman]

Cheers, Bonnex,

This is most informative and helpful.

Like you, I too did time in the sas (Saturdays and Sundays). Seven years... I joined because I needed to forget....... Don't know what it was that I needed to forget... Because I've forgotten!

Regards
Bruno

 

[Bannerman]

Hi there Paul, Pat, US-Subs and Bonnex.

Thanks very much for your help; your responses were, as I'd hoped they would be, very positive so I am therefore ready to go ahead and buy. Can't wait to get my nose into it.

Cheers chaps
Best wishes
Bruno

 

[dano1917]

Bannerman, As you probably already know, you just can't have too much reference information when it comes to ordnance. I really like the Delhomme books on WW1 grenades. With great drawings and useful information I think they should be part of any reference library. I never saw a grenade book I didn't like. And when it comes to information as collectors we need to be "armed to the teeth". All books I saw mentioned in this thread I would consider excellent, and another I really like is about German and Bulgarian grenades of WW1 and WW2. Can't name the book right now because it is packed away for the move. I also like the period handbooks that were written as identification guides back when the early grenades were still new. All good choices. It is so nice to actually know a little something about what we collect. Invaluable and priceless....Dano

 

[Bannerman]

Hi Dano,

Many thanks for your input on this. I strongly agree with all you say regarding us (as I view as both collectors and custodians of genuine historical artifacts) needing to accumulate and assimulate as much knowledge as we possibly can. When I started out collecting years ago, the ordnance/militaria collectors world seemed delightfully amatuer and affordable, but with not that much reference material available.

Things have been changing over recent years, with the market growing in terms of profile and rising prices; I think we are starting to see the arrival of professional investors, who are thinking in terms of $/'s as opposed to a genuine interest in the actual stuff that we are so passionate about collecting.

I personally think this means is that our world of collecting has moved up a few notches, grown up, matured. It is, or will soon be, running on a par with the world of serious antiques and art collecting. BIG BUCKS!

However, what has also changed (and enormously to our advantage) is the fact that all of us are able to access massive amounts of relevant information, as before via our personal contacts but more significantly via the web (this site is especially great in it's field) and via incredibly detailed reference books, the likes of which were not around when I first started out.

Knowledge is power, as someone once said and is one of our best weapons in our impending bun-fight with investors and in particular, the dealers who will attempt to create a demand to satisfy these investors by exaggerating prices/market value, bull***ting about what they have on offer.

I must say all individual collectors I've ever dealt with have been genuine and honest with me. Most dealers I've dealt with have been great. I believe I have only been deliberately misled once, which would not have happened had I been as well informed as I am today.

Oh no! I've just read back and I can see this has turned into a rant! Apologies to you Dano and anyone else drawn into reading this!

All I ntended to say is that I have ordered Darryl's book on the basis of advice given to me here.

Regards
Bruno