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Exquisite Sectioned Grenade

siegfreid

siegfreid

HONOURED MEMBER RIP
Premium Member
mvc-048s.jpg
Mills No 5 . Period WW1 sectioned . Probably a quality control example rather than instructional . Cut to the micron accuracy even showing the high points of the threads for the filler screw . No computer cutting in those days . Finished by a craftsman with a file & a stone . Awesome .
 
Millsman said:
What about the centre piece? Odd one?

John
Click to expand...

John,

The centre piece is a composite lead-antimony and brass construction, patented by a Mr Cuyler Findlay in December 1915, as one solution to easing the production of Mills centre pieces - machining the early aluminium blank castings was problematic.

Some other photos of this very centre piece (it's actually a very well travelled centre piece...) show the construction of the lead alloy cast directly around the brass striker and detonator sleeves. Also attached is the relevant page from the patent - see Figure 3.



Tom.
 

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Last edited:
Thanks Tom.

I normally associate that style of centre piece with the 23Mk III or the early 36's. I've not personally found one in a No 5. Although I have one in my collection of centre pieces I've never seen one with the two additional flanges either side of the striker shaft. I assume production figures were fairly small.

You learn something everyday!

John
 
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I had a bash at cutting a no36 last year . Still needs completing but the cuts are done
 
There are some very nice sectioned Mills around an some horrors too. A few years ago Mike sold me this one which is very fine and I assume to be either a factory demo or a top class museum display item. It is a centre cast with all the early features. The quality is much higher than the standard D&B or Radnal Service issue cutaway. Like's Mike's the style of cutaway is different to. Mine being a 25% segment removed.

Like Mike's it is not just cut but polished superbly.

DSCN0021.JPGCopy of DSCN0019.JPG

John
 
Snufkin said:
John,

The centre piece is a composite lead-antimony and brass construction, patented by a Mr Cuyler Findlay in December 1915, as one solution to easing the production of Mills centre pieces - machining the early aluminium blank castings was problematic.

Some other photos of this very centre piece (it's actually a very well travelled centre piece...) show the construction of the lead alloy cast directly around the brass striker and detonator sleeves. Also attached is the relevant page from the patent - see Figure 3.



Tom.
Click to expand...
 
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