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Mills No.5 Cutaway... Completed!

S

staples57

BOCN Supporter
Several months ago, I pickup up a nickle plated Mills No.5 that was originally turned into an ashtray. It appears to be a factory job, however, the maker is unknown. The cut-out section of the casting was once the stand (now missing, but the brass rivet is still there), the base plug is completely unmarked and the filler screw appears to be unique. Other than the base plug and filler screw, all the other bits were missing.

Over the last few months I've been assembling the various missing bits. I'm pleased to say that I now have a very nice example of a Mills No.5 cutaway.
...the striker spring is a replacement and will be replaced with an original spring in the next couple of days

Thanks to everyone on BOCN that helped me find all the bits!
A special thanks goes out to Millsman for the sectioned centerpiece.

So, how did I do?
I welcome any suggestions, comments & criticisms.

Cheers,
Brad
 

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Really well done! Looks great!
Below is a pic of my 36Mk1 early sectioned. Very crudely done compared to 36m mk1 armourers setioned grenades but still look good I reckon
 

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Thanks Pointblank0. I like the way you sectioned your centerpiece. Looks like an early No.5 brass centerpiece. Well done.

Cheers,
Brad

pointblank0 said:
Really well done! Looks great!
Below is a pic of my 36Mk1 early sectioned. Very crudely done compared to 36m mk1 armourers setioned grenades but still look good I reckon
Click to expand...
 
staples57 said:
Thanks Pointblank0. I like the way you sectioned your centerpiece. Looks like an early No.5 brass centerpiece. Well done.

Cheers,
Brad
Click to expand...

Can't take the glory unfortunatly......I bought it like this, but yes, a lovely brass centre piece, used on the early 36s as well as 23s too, just not as common. These types of centre tube were acceptable untill late 1919 where a decision was made to only produce the centre tube in aluminium alloy. I think this came about after some confusion and theories of uneven fragmentation of the grenade, later just out down to having an off entre detonator. Not sure on this one though, can anyone add anything?
 
Great effort

A fine job totally well done Brad. Isn't it nice to see the fruit of your labor, obviously a labor of love very well done. In this endeavor the end result was definately worth the effort. It's a true beauty. A job totally well done...Dano
 
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Excellent job.
It has reminded me that i was going to have a go at sectioning a german 1914 rifle grenade. better get started this weekend i suppose.
Cheers, Paul.
 
I think the job Brad has done in converting a standard modern drill det to this finished product, really adds to the overall result. Well done!

John
 
Thanks for all the comments guys. It was a project that I really enjoyed.
...the research, finding all the bits, the restoration and the reassembly
It took a while (several months) to complete, however, I'm really pleased with the end result.

Thanks also to CampX, Millsman & Gothica7 for the info, bits and suggestions and support!

Now on to the next project, possibly a cutaway No 36M Mk.1??
...if you haven't guessed, I really like Mills Bombs!

Cheers,
Brad
 
Here's a photo to get you started Brad!

John
 

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a sectioning we will go, hi ho a merry-o sectioning we will go

Hi Brad, If you check on specialist auctions there is a No36 Mk1 body for sale and it may go cheap. Go to SA and type 36 grenade body in searchbox and it'll show up. You did a smashing job on the #5 and it goes to show you that a little patience will go a long way. Sectioning and cutting is not my thing, but I can really respect the time and effort it takes to do one. i may try someday but I just don't have the drive right now. No doubt someday I will probably take a whack (pun definately intended) at it, but for now i'm good. Again Brad, a great job...respectfully...Dano
 
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Hi Brad,

job well done bud.

Here are a couple of 36s of mine professionally done by an armourer.
A 1971 and a 1972, both very tidy grens.

Andy
 

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Pardon me for saying so Andy but but I think the one on the left is horrible, and a waste of a good grenade!

John
 
Its a matter of taste John, all perfectly done too and as i said its a propper armourers job and never a waste of a gren if its for instructional purposes.

Its been very skillfully done. Some of the cutaways you and i have had in our hands in the past dont come a scratch on this and you know it.

Andy
 
mighty tidy 36's

Hi andy, I think both 36's are cracking, very well done, excellent work. I like the 36 with the circle cut out of it as it leaves the main body intact and recognizable..Dano
 
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Yes Andy, all down to taste as you say. I'll stick with my originals.

Cheers

John
 
I must say, I like the 36 with the circle cut out. It's a bit different and stands out. Good to be different sometimes,
Rob
 
Millsman said:
Yes Andy, all down to taste as you say. I'll stick with my originals.

Cheers

John
Click to expand...
What do you mean by 'sticking with your originals'?
Mine is an original too and where have you seen another like it before?
Its a cracking gren, in excellent condition. Its been worked on by an expert who has done a fine job, far better than you or i could do and to get an accurate circular cut on the det tube, slightly smaller than the casing cut which takes some doing which ime sure is way above the straight edges that most of us can do. Just cant see where you are coming from as everyone i have shown it to thinks its great. Its just a variation on a cutaway you havnt seen before. Ime proud to own it and i can assure you it isnt a bodge job.

Andy
 
Wow! Thanks for the tip Dan. That's a nice No.36 body, the current bid is only 11 GBP! :tinysmile_shy_t: I wish that it was something that I could have shipped to Canada.
...Canada Customs just wouldn't appreciate it as much as we do :tinysmile_cry_t4:
I'd be bidding on that one in a heart beat!

Cheers,
Brad


dano1917 said:
Hi Brad, If you check on specialist auctions there is a No36 Mk1 body for sale and it may go cheap. Go to SA and type 36 grenade body in searchbox and it'll show up. You did a smashing job on the #5 and it goes to show you that a little patience will go a long way. Sectioning and cutting is not my thing, but I can really respect the time and effort it takes to do one. i may try someday but I just don't have the drive right now. No doubt someday I will probably take a whack (pun definately intended) at it, but for now i'm good. Again Brad, a great job...respectfully...Dano
Click to expand...
 
Well, I didn't intend to spark an argument there Gents.
Remember... Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

Not to take sides but I do like Andy's Mills on the left. The circular cutaway is very unique, I've never seen one like that before.
I would snap that one up in an instant if I came across it at a car boot sale. That would be something that I would certainly want for my collection.

Nice one Andy, thanks for the photo.

Cheers,
Brad


gothica7 said:
Hi Brad,

job well done bud.

Here are a couple of 36s of mine professionally done by an armourer.
A 1971 and a 1972, both very tidy grens.

Andy
Click to expand...
 
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