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Dutch V40 practice grenade

spotter

spotter

UBIQUE
Staff member
Premium Member
Latest addition to the collection a nice small Dutch V40 practice grenade,I know very little about this,on Lexs site it says developed by the dutch but never used by them is this correct,I recall seeing a mention of them been used by USA special forces can anyone confirm who used them ,,also are these just for throwing practice or did they have a detonator/charge

The lever on my example is marked S-40 MFT-71
The Bottom of the body is stamped B 1 6



V40DSC00015.jpg
 
Just re-located this info on the HE version from Lex,s website

..thanks Lex

file0026.jpg
 
Here are my two, blue dummy V 41 and inert HE V 40. The dummy one has inert filling and a solid aluminium "detonator" Note the large odd shaped pull rings. I hope you can read the stencilling on the base of the dummy. Every one I have seen has S40 MFT 71 on the safety lever. Tony.
MVC_454S.JPG
 
Thanks Tony,,I never noticed the inert filling ,,do you have a picture of the solid detonator on yours

V40DSC00023.jpg
 
Almost one step ahead ! pic shows dummy components, filling looks and smells like car body filler.
MVC_459S.JPG
 
Cheers for the pics tony,,i think ill have to make a dummy det now for this one
 
It's about 45mm long and approx 7mm in dia. Just a piece of ali rod with a small collar on the top and the bottom slightly chamfered.
MVC_461S.JPG
 
Hi Spotter,
I do not know much of these grenades, but I know that they were developed and produced by NWM de Kruithoorn, The Netherlands. MFT stands for Metaalwaren Fabriek Tilburg (also Netherlands), they also produced cartridge links.
As far as I know, these grenades were not taken into service (or at least minimal) because they were forbidden. Because of the size they could be `lost` easily in trouser pockets and other small places what considered to be dangerous. The US took over the patent and started producing them by their selves.

Regards, Cornman
 
A Vietnamise friend of my confirmed that he used the V40 minifrag handgrenad during his periode of service for the US Special Forces.
 
V40 in the UK

V40s were trialled in the UK but were not brought into regular service.
 

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Canada used/listed the V40 for a number of years, but finally destroyed the remaining stocks as the size made them hard to hold and caused accidents.
 
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