Any Interest... Resin or Rubber Mills Replicas?

[staples57]

Would you be interested?

My recent search for a No.5 Mills bomb (inert) has confirmed one thing... that they are rare and hard to find on this side of the pond (Canada) unless you have deep pockets and loads of cash.
Up to now, all I've heard is a lot of hearsay... "a friend of a friend of mine" type of talk about collectors and re-enactors looking for replica Mills bombs.

I think that most of us have been to the Tommy's Pack Fillers web-site and read the comical truth about their resin replicas... "As blown up by Canadian Customs!".

I have an opportunity to produce solid resin or rubber replicas (solid & totally inert).

My question to you...
Is there a need or interest amongst collectors and re-enactors for a solid resin or rubber replica of the famous Mills bomb?

What would be interested in?

Mills Type:
a) Mills No. 5
b) Mills No. 23
c) Mills No. 36

Construction:
d) Solid Resin
e) Rubber
​

Your feedback will help me identify is this idea has any merit.

Cheers,
Brad

 

[staples57]

No one is interested, really?

 

[spotter]

sorry mate ,i have a couple of genuine ones,but i think these are a good idea especially if they are hard to get in other countries

 

[Grenadier]

+++

They should be advertised at reenactment communities by my opinion. The target here is an original.

 

[gothica7]

Hi Grenadier,
dont understand your comment, 'The target here is an original'?
I can understand the OPs questions re what is required by forum users and if any are interested. I for one would be interested in a rubber gren, in particular if it reproduced the rubber no 5s used for throwing practice during WW1 as they are now as rare as hens teeth. However i would only be interested if the OP did his homework and got it right.
This forum does deal with repro items, especially if it is difficult to obtain originals as the Op is experiencing in Canada.

Andy

 

[dano1917]

resin Mill's #36

Attached is a photo of a resin #36 WW2 grenade. these used to be offered on ebay by an outfit called Thefieldwerks, but don't see them offered there any longer. this one was painted over as they came in a flat satin gunmetal color. They also make an m1917 resin German egg and an m1913 kugel as well as a US MK1. I'm not sure if they are out of stock on the #36 or they quit making them. I think the price was somewhere around 25.00? Dano

 

[Grenadier]

Just my opinion - the guy will find more interested in reenactment forums. I try to help here.

 

[gothica7]

Looks pretty good Dano,

i have seen resin replicas for sale on eBay.com that came apart, ie, base plug,lever and pin but they wanted silly monies for them, 35 quid at least which stopped me from bidding. then there was the postage from the US on top of that.
I suppose it how accurate and detailed you want them. I think its how Grenadier says, reenactors will want them but not at an expensive price but they have got to look good too.

Andy

 

[dano1917]

Attached is a pic of the Us MK1 that is currently available on ebay from thefieldwerks. Dano

 

[staples57]

Thanks to everyone for all the comments & suggestions.

The availability and price of real (inert) Mills bombs in UK & Europe is a luxury that we simply do not have in Canada.
It's completely understandable... why buy a replica when the real thing is readily available and the price is well within means?

There are certainly replicas available. Tommy's Pack Fillers, TheFieldWerks & the 9.00 jobbies on Specialist Auctions are the first that come to mind.

Over here (Canada), inert Mills bombs (real or replica) are not readily available. Our strict laws make it next to impossible to import a real (inert) or replica Mills bomb.
When you do find one, it's usually priced out of reach. For example, an inert Mills No.36M Mk.1 sells for just under $200 CDN and that's when you can find one. A collector may opt for a $200 addition to their collection, however, I don't believe that the re-enactor will.

I'm hoping to provide an affordable ($50 CDN or less) solution, readily available to collectors & re-enactors in Canadian (and the US).


From the feedback I've been getting, the requests have been in favour of a rubber No.5 & rubber No. 36M Mk.1.

Just a thought, how about a resin No. 69??


Please keep the comments & suggestions coming!

Cheers,
Brad

 

[TomcatPC]

Hello

I live in the United States and am involved in WWII Reenacting. I just got a resin molded No.36M Mk.I Mills Bomb from International Military Antiques that is decent. But, I would not mind finding another No.36M Mk.I and/or a No.69 for a decent price.

I don't have the cash to even consider a real inert Mills Bomb and have not seen many this side of the Atlantic. Then again I have not had the cash to even start looking for the real thing. So I'd be interested in seeing a decent priced No.36M Mk.I or No. 69 reproduction.
Thanks
Mark

 

[kajn65]

Rubber & Resine Grenades

Hi,

Things Military or Military Tour have the No.36 Mills Bombs Replicas along with the shipping crate. The grenades are selling for $75.00 CDN + shipping. Go have a look.

Do you make the grenades that the Canadians (Infantry & Airborne) used during WW2 on the grenade launchers for the No.4 rifles? I've seem some original and rubber/resine versions for sale in the US. However, these can't be imported into Canada. Blame our government for that.

As a matter of point, I'm a collector and a Canadian WW2 re-enactor. This would be most valueable to the latter who would actually use these rubber/resine for demonstration purposes at museums, etc.; and for actual re-enacting events where mock battles and simulated battle drills would take place in front of the public for education purposes.

From the collector and re-enactor side, the use of inert grenades is set aside strictly display purposes due to the cost of purchase; and not to mention the shear weight of such an individual item. The use of these original relics in demonstrations and simulations would pose serious bodily injuries and property damage when used in the manner that they were intended, especially when used with a work grenade launcher and reproduced ballistite rounds (grenade firing blanks).

Keep up the work. The market for such things is out there. At some point down the road I will be in search of such things.

Send me a PM or email me at:

keyannoble@hotmail.com

&

Keyan.Noble@flyjazz.ca

to let me know what exactly you're making, costing, etc., etc.

On the other side of the coin, collectors would only want the real deal and not a resine/rubber replicas; subject to availablity, local laws, etc.

For some, like myself, both would be an extream asset.

Keep up the good work.

That's my 2 Canadian cents worth anyway.

Rgs... Keyan (kajn65)

 

[pointblank0]

Sounds like a good idea to me, but like others have said, probably more interest to re-enactors. I would personaly not want to throw around one of my real Mills bombs, as I would probably cry a little when it got damaged. Going down the 69 route, fantastic idea. I have seen many resin mills and mk2's around, but never any 69's.
You could get hold of a technical grenade manual and cast some nice experimental grenades and stuff, that would be cool

 

[banksy-2k10]

Funny you should post this I was looking for a totally resin on rubber mills bomb for my fish tank lol so I would want one !

 

[gothica7]

Since this post began i have aquired the rubber Mills i mentioned in an earler post. Made in 1916 and in almost mint condition. I certainly would not want to throw it in case it too became a bit buggered. I think these are the ones to be copied, however, i dont think anyone would be fooled by said copies as i am sure it would be too difficult to make them with a solid metal core as per the originals at a price worth paying.
Surely a small bit of painted wood would do for a re enactor?

Andy