colors and markings on No69 grenades...

[clancey2651]

I have seen some early war examples of the no69 grenade which were unmarked except for the stamped info on the bottoms, and no color bands at all on them, just a plain black body. Was this common up to some point at which markings started to appear on them? If so, were no69's already issued out recalled to be remarked, or were they left in circulation?

 

[paul the grenade]

Im sure they were all marked with the standard red crosses and green band and sometimes a white circle with a number in it (lot number???) maybe with them being a very shiney plastic the paint did not key to it very well and rubbed off easily. Maybe someone knows different though.
Cheers, Paul.

 

[Bonnex]

I have seen some early war examples of the no69 grenade which were unmarked except for the stamped info on the bottoms, and no color bands at all on them, just a plain black body. Was this common up to some point at which markings started to appear on them? If so, were no69's already issued out recalled to be remarked, or were they left in circulation?

Dear Clancey,
Filled 69s should have been marked appropriately. I don't think there is any reason why any filled British 69 grenades should have escaped this essential process. I would be interested to know what evidence makes you believe otherwise. Clandestine stores excepting (for a while) British ammunition was always subject to the most strict specifications for manufacture and for filling which included marking.

There were (are) lots of examples of plain grenades that were never filled in collections etc. Is it these you refer to?

 

[clancey2651]

That might be the case. The ones I saw were mostly on specialist collector auction site. So it would be safe to assume if I put one out for display it should have the red "X's" and the stripes on it.