WW1 Dunkirk Grenades

[millsbomber]

Iv been reading past threads and found a bit about the Dunkirk grenades produced by the french about 1915, against Mr Mills patents.
heres some pictures of my examples in the collection, how many more are out there.
The main differences are cast brass centre tube, no markings on the base plug and single point striker slotted all the way up for gas release.

 

[gothica7]

Nice piccys Dave,

i have a couple of the same type of brass base plug, wasnt sure from what gren they came from.

Also, did they use a different type of detonator? I say this as the usual type was fired as you know by a .22 rimfire which might not go off if hit by a striker with a centre point. Didnt know it they made a centre fire round as small as a .22. Been thinking about this for a while now.

Andy

 

[millsbomber]

Theres a EOD guy who me and Bonnex know who might have the answer, i can not visit him for a while, he has a excelent example that has JPS markings just under the filler screw, heres a link to my site where i took a picture of some dets in his collection http://www.millsgrenades.co.uk/images/Mills%20accessorys/Selection%20of%20dets.JPG

 

[gothica7]

Great pics Dave,

i understand that the first dets had a sealed .22 rimfire cartridge, not the later type with the papered hole. Maybe the single pointed striker worked ok with a det like this. I would think there would have been many blinds if used with the later type.

Andy

 

[Millsman]

Nice piccys Dave,

i have a couple of the same type of brass base plug, wasnt sure from what gren they came from.


Andy

Andy

I've seen a similar plug (in alloy) that was produced for post WW1 souvenir grenades used as ashtrays.

Nice Grenades Dave - green with envy!

John

 

[gothica7]

I think mine are the real mccoy John as they have rust on them from gren bodies, the ones i showed you when we last had lunch. I can see the type being used on souvenir grens, especially if they had to make them. Could have been old unused stock but we will never know.

Andy

 

[Millsman]

Yes Andy I think they would have been easy to make but I agree yours did look the real thing. Shame you didn't get the rest of the grens!

John