What's new
British Ordnance Collectors Network

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

British Number 22 MkI or II Grenade

O

ozziammo

Well-Known Member
Howdy Guys,

What is the difference between a No.22 Mk I & the Mk II please.

I have picked up a body of one & would like to restore it, I am needing a front cap & would like a rod for it also.

Getting the right diameter rod here in Australia is nigh on impossible, what is the supply of this material like in UK?

Thanks,

Regards Ozzi.
 
ozziammo said:
Howdy Guys,

What is the difference between a No.22 Mk I & the Mk II please.

I have picked up a body of one & would like to restore it, I am needing a front cap & would like a rod for it also.

Getting the right diameter rod here in Australia is nigh on impossible, what is the supply of this material like in UK?

Thanks,

Regards Ozzi.
Click to expand...

NO22.jpgThe Mk I has a heavy cap and is fitted with a safety pin. The Mk II uses a light cap. The original GHQ France workshop pattern used a light cap but, when the design was brought back to the UK for home production, the fireside warriors fitted a large split pin to make the grenade safer. To hold the safety pin the cap had to be made of more robust steel plate making the cap heavier. The grenade was safe with the pin in place but of course it was removed before firing and the cap set-back on firing, killing or seriously injuring the firer. A mark II was designed to overcome this slight problem and was much the same as the workshop design!

There is guy making the Mark II caps in the UK. I think he advertises through the SA auction site.

I believe stock rod of the sort need for British rifle grenades is not possible to find over here. Would be delighted to be proved wrong.

Best
 
Norman is right , you can't buy standard rod the correct size , it has to be custom made on a lathe . There's a guy who makes standard 10" rods to a very high standard but the rod for the No22 is 15" long with a gas check at the end . Ozzi , if you PM me I will contact him to see if he can make one for you .
 
Dave,

I have a feeling that the righthand cap in your photographs is the original Workshop pattern. Nice find if it is, I dont think I have seen a real one. The cap for the 107 fuze is similar but with cut prongs to allow a bayonet style of fitting.
Drawing on the left is the Workshop pattern (dimensions in mm) and the one on the right is the home production Mk II.

No22WorkshopCap.jpgNo22MkII.jpg
 
Last edited:
Thanks everyone for the replies & info.

Is there a difference in the bodies between a Mk I & Mk II or just the caps?

Pic of mine included.

Siegrfeid, thanks for your offer, but I am a fitter/machinist by trade with my own machines, I was trying to take the easy road out if I could get the right material from the start, but looks like I will be machining my own up, do you have the dimensions of the rod including the gas check?

However the cap is a more complicated item to manufacture, either a repro or rough original would suit mine, if anyone has a spare?

Thanks,

Regards Ozzi.
Pippin.jpg
 
Last edited:
mvc-733s.jpg

Here's a scan of the end of a No22 rod with its gas check . You'll find the correct dimensions as far as TPI & rod diameter is concerned if you search the threads on this forum . I should know what they are but can't remember !
 
Thanks siegfreid, I have a couple of specimens of No.20 & 24 so can measure rod dia. from those, thread type should be the same also??? The gas check- is it a copper/brass cup or a solid plug of slightly larger diam. than rod (to act as seal)? The literature I have doesn't show that sort of detail of the gas check. I think you have given the rod length of 15in in a previous post.

Just did a search & found a drawing including dimensions! Thanks.
 
Last edited:
ozziammo said:
Thanks siegfreid, I have a couple of specimens of No.20 & 24 so can measure rod dia. from those, thread type should be the same also??? The gas check- is it a copper/brass cup or a solid plug of slightly larger diam. than rod (to act as seal)? The literature I have doesn't show that sort of detail of the gas check. I think you have given the rod length of 15in in a previous post.

Just did a search & found a drawing including dimensions! Thanks.
Click to expand...

Should help, if you can read it (if not PM your email address). Note the 18tpi thread:


View attachment IDWB44 Grenade No22 Mk2.pdf
 
Last edited:
Norman,

Thanks very much, this has all the info needed.

The cap will be a challenge tho!

Regards Ozzi.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top