French WW1 Lemon grenade colour

[Tommy Atkins]

Hi all, does anybody know if the ww1 lemon grenade was painted & if so what colour?

Cheers.

 

[BMG50]

As far as I know they were painted in a French blue grey.

 

[Millsman]

The colour of French Helmets was Horizon Blue. It's likely the grenades were the same colour. I have seen them in pale blue in some museums but can't verify that's correct.

I have a tin of reproduction Horizon Blue that I had made for a helmet restoration. This was created from a paint manufacturers specialist scanner on an 1916 helmet. Looks good.

John

 

[dano1917]

Have seen the (citron foug??) lemon France WW1 grenades in all shades of horizon blue, being 3 shades that I know of. The horizon blue official color was changed throughout the war I would assume because the brass thought it was better camo at different times. I have seen Adrian1915 helmets with basecoat and 2 repaints, all of which were done during the war. They seem to have updated the colors in the field as it was deemed necessary.........Dano

 

[Tommy Atkins]

Thanks for the info, its now in Horizon blue.

Cheers for now

 

[Tommy Atkins]

Hi Dano thanks for that, its now Horizon blue.

Thanks again.

 

[Tommy Atkins]

Hi William, thanks for the info. Can you upload a pic of the helmet? I have a helmet that I think is original colour but I would like to see the helmet you had painted.


Cheers for now

 

[Spgr30]

hi,
This is the french helmet with the right color, hope that help you.
Bests regards

 

[Tommy Atkins]

Hi, thanks for the picture, a big help. Would you know where I can purchase a WW1 lebel? they are very scarce here & also very expensive. I want this for my French infantry mannequin. Are you anywhere near to Arras as I am visiting the battlefields there in March.

Cheers & thanks again

Tommy


Cheers for now

 

[paul the grenade]

heres a P1 with its original blue.
cheers, paul.

 

[Tommy Atkins]

Great, thanks Paul.

Cheers for now

Lary

 

[Millsman]

hi,
This is the french helmet with the right color, hope that help you.
Bests regards
View attachment 87656

I think that helmet's paint has lightened a little. It has lost some blue and hints more of grey. Quite understandable after 100 years. The helmet I had scanned to match the paint was a French families heirloom and had been stored for many years so the paint was slightly darker.

John