Experimental Bellamy Type A 1917

[paul the grenade]

Hi All.
Heres a very very Rare Grenade.
Its the Bellamy Type A. An experimental grenade designed by Captain Bellamy of the Royal Engineers in 1917. It was known as the GHQ percussion pattern. The fuze is an allways impact fuze with a safety tape arrangement. To throw you simply pulled of the brass cap, held the tape against the fuze with your finger and threw it, the tape would unwind removing the safety bolt on the end of the tape arming the fuze, on impact the lead weight would drive the striker into the primer setting of the grenade. It could also be fired fron the 2 inch discharger cup, the 2 bands on the body would keep it centred in the cup during launching.
Small quantities were trialed in 1918 alongside the Bellamy type B and the C.S.O.F (Chief Superintendant Ordnance Factories) grenade and were quite successful but the armistice on 11 nov put a stop to manufacture. Unsurprisingly the C.S.O.F. was chosen and became the No 54.
Any more info would be much appreciated.
Cheers, Paul.

 

[ben2000]

Awesome grenade Paul! There are so many WW1 British grenades I dont know about, i'll never be able to collect them all!!

 

[Snufkin]

That truly is a Museum quality grenade...



Tom.

 

[gothica7]

Very nice Paul.

I hope this is the birthday present. Very envious. :tinysmile_cry_t3:

Andy

 

[millsbomber]

You jammie git, well done, i see the body markings HP and the shield, i have a No36 Mk1 with the logo HP Zinc coated, No shield but my No22 Pippin is made by CAV has a Shield ?????? Dave

 

[paul the grenade]

Any idea who HP is Dave?
Cheers, Paul.

 

[millsbomber]

I dont know Paul but im sure Tom will...... Dave

 

[sgtlynn]

Nice one Paul, congratulations. Your collection is truely spectacular now!!!! I think I will have to put Lincoln on my list of places to visit next time I come over!!

 

[Jolly Green]

VERY nice Paul.
Just goes to show ya that good things come to good people.

 

[dano1917]

Very nice find Paul. One of my favorite things about bring a part of BOCN is I get to see rare stuff, stuff that I did not realize even existed. I get excited when I find a piece for my collection that is a tad rare, because frankly a tad rare is about all my pocketbook can stand. I REALLY get excited when another member comes up with a "one off" type piece and am very happy to be able to see such stuff. I am happy with my station in collecting and gladly accept the fact that there is a lot of stuff I would want but will never have. So when you guys come up with a mondo rare item (such as this grenade) I get just as excited as if I were getting it. Again, great find Paul and keep 'em coming...Best.......Dano

 

[Tarbelin51]

A nice piece that your grenade.
Congratulation