Hi Alan
Yes the nickel plated example is the one from a recent SA auction.
In all honesty I think I paid too much for it but it's a long story why I paid what I did which really centres around the centre cast shown on the left.
I had been promised first refusal on the one on the left but after months it hadn't been forthcoming, so thinking it would never show up, and having just done some overtime, I took the plunge and placed my bid which was above the odds. Then as with sods law, I was finally given the chance to buy the one I'd been waiting months to buy, so two turned up at once....like waiting for a bus!
Despite all that, it's a lovely piece and I'm very pleased with it. The ring is original from what I can tell and yes, I believe they mostly had smaller rings on the pull pin back then.
As for the brass striker, I can't tell you whether it's original or not. My hunch is that it's not, but that's only based on the fact that I've never seen one with a brass striker like this one has. Maybe someone can elaborate further. If I get time tomorrow I'll strip it down into its component parts and upload some pics.
I won't be making a habit of paying so much for these things in the future, but it's hard trying to find grenades of worth, when all I have is the Internet to do it, as I simply don't have time to attend any Militaria fairs and have a root round for these things myself.
Mike
