early dated British smoke grenade

[dano1917]

I had showed this British smoke grenade on an earlier thread, but got to looking closer at it and it appears to have an earlier date than it should (that is if this is indeed a date). On the reverse is 3/69 which would seem like 20 or so years too early. Any ideas. I looked at it close thinking it may have been an incomplete 89 but it does not appear to be. Were these being made in 1969!!!.......Dano

 

[spotter]

Info i have dano says the L54A2 came into service in 1988,,is it date stamped on the top of the lever ?

 

[dano1917]

Hi Alan, The spoon is stamped SQ DMB 85.................1985????? Dano
Could the 3/69 possibly be some sort of lot number????
Final auction price was $3.45 U.S. and 8.00 shipping so total was about 6 or 7 quid!!! AFFORDABLE i'd say

 

[paul the grenade]

Ive had a look at all mine Dan and they all have dates in the 80's.
Yours must be an 8 with a bit missing to make it look like a 6.:tinysmile_twink_t2:
Cheers, Paul.

 

[pointblank0]

You got that cheap mate. They are getting quite hard to get in that condition now.

 

[dano1917]

Ive had a look at all mine Dan and they all have dates in the 80's.
Yours must be an 8 with a bit missing to make it look like a 6.:tinysmile_twink_t2:
Cheers, Paul.

Paul, I would guess you are right, but man it sure soes look like 3/69 and the rest of stamping is so strong but 89 makes much more sense....Dano

 

[Chris 42 RQ]

Nice item!

Back in "69" the cans were much longer and thinner than the modern version you have there.
I agree with the others that that cannot be the correct date.

 

[Fragman]

Hi. Here's a Brit No 83 dated 1968. Cheers

Back in "69" the cans were much longer and thinner than the modern version you have there.
I agree with the others that that cannot be the correct date.

 

[spotter]

could be my old eyes playing up or the way the photos lit but if you zoom onto the date ? on the lever im sure i can see a faint mark on the 5 in the 85 making it look like a slight mis strike 9 which would make it 89...

 

[dano1917]

further scientific investigation

Upon further study, scrutiny and scientific investigation (I took it over to the neighbor kid who has good eyes) it is defo an 89 date. After my junior scientist confirmed to me it was actually 89 he said "waddya stupid"??? Dano