Is this real???

[Dronic69]

Hi All,

Had this grenade for years and after reading Yoda's recent thread, went & re-examined my one again....the fuse looks original (M215), but the body? I gather that it has been re-painted to toy GI Joe colour...

The only marking is a "U" on the body.

So it is the real McCoy? a dummy? or just "Made in Hong Kong" :wink:

All thoughts welcome.
(If by some small miracle that it is real - any ideas on vintage (Vietnam?))

Thanks
Cheers
Drew

 

[Slick]

Drew

It appears you have a fine example of a Mk. 2A1. It was used from late WW2 through early VietNam. The fuze is actually of the M10 or M204 series. Somebody went and adapted the lever from a 215(a nice job of it, I might add) to complete the "look". Cautious use of paint stripper may get you back to original body color and some begging here on BOCN would probably get you the correct lever.
A nice example regardless of its current Frankenstein status.

Rick

 

[Dronic69]

Hi Rick,

Firstly thank you for the clarification - much appreciated! (I better not store it in the "junk box" any more!!!)

Can you advise which period were these used? .....and the "U"????

Thanks
Cheers
Drew

 

[Slick]

Drew

I edited my first post, re the use time frame. The U cast into one of the lugs denotes the manufacturer. I don't know who that is/was. Somebody watching will know.
And yea, definitely not a junk box piece.

 

[Grenademan2005]

Nothing more to say, Slick is totally right. Good point.