No35 Rifle Grenade

[Edwardc]

Hello All,

I have a nice deac/inert unfired (so not dug) No35 - i know they had a cut down .303 shell as the ignitor but i wonder if anyone has a photo of 'how cut down' - this is the only piece i am missing from mine, and would like to add a an inert one for completeness.

Is it literally a cut down normal .303 or is it a crimped grenade launching blank or something else?

Will post photos in a bit

thanks
Ed

 

[Snufkin]

A detonator was placed within a cut-down, drilled and pared .303 casing. The images show the (empty) casing attached to the alloy end plug, and the head of the casing minus primer.


.

 

[Edwardc]

A detonator was placed within a cut-down, drilled and pared .303 casing. The images show the (empty) casing attached to the alloy end plug, and the head of the casing minus primer.


.

Okay cool, mine looks like this, do I already have the cut down 303 case then??

 

[Snufkin]

What you show there is the later version transit plug, with tinplate tube to maintain the form of the paper-wrapped HE bursting charge cartridge.

 

[Edwardc]

What you show there is the later version transit plug, with tinplate tube to maintain the form of the paper-wrapped HE bursting charge cartridge.

Aah okay thank you, makes sense. So mine is in complete condition - albeit in ‘transit’ configuration

 

[Snufkin]

So mine is in complete condition - albeit in ‘transit’ configuration

Yes.

For what it's worth, from a 25 August 1917 supply report: "Approval has been given for the fixing of a tin tube to the closing plugs of Nos. 24 and 35 rifle grenades to prevent deformation from damp of the waxed paper cartridge containing the explosive."