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Grenade assistance please

US-Subs

ORDNANCE APPROVED/Premium Member
Ordnance approved
Premium Member
As shown today on the Bombatorium thread, not long ago I lucked into a "trash collection" of grenade bits and pieces. Parts of a Kilgore, a Jap 97 without top, some junk pieces, a few MKII bodies, and two potential items of interest. One is an apparent flash bang which I have not seen before, looks like an early design. It is scorched on the top and appears to have been used repeatedly for training. Any ideas?

The second is a Mills, the yellow paint appears to be original. Based on my location, was this ever a Canadian color? It looks very much like US pre-1943. Also, do the parts match or is it a Frankenstein grenade? Slightly unusual in my limited experience is that the base is not threaded quite as deeply as the plug is - not boding well for the original pieces.... Can anyone give me further info? Thanks.

DSCN5438.JPGDSCN5436.JPGDSCN5434.JPGDSCN5381.jpg
 
The No.36 is a mix of parts, but a valid period mix. The body appears to be marked HBS, which is Hattersley Brothers, Swinton (a place in Yorkshire UK). One of the post Dunkirk-panic manufacturers, Hattersley Bros received a single contract for 50,000 in July 1940 and only delivered just under 32,000, making it one of the smallest known production runs and your example thereby a scarce one.

The few surviving examples from this maker seemed to have been used for training, painted white and drilled with five holes in British service. However, close viewing of the yellow seems to show original underlying varnish and tiny traces of green paint around the middle horizontal groove, so British service markings that have been over painted. If the colour is the pre-1943 US HE yellow, then maybe an example once destined for US trials.
 

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image.jpgYour flashbang appears to be made by Combined Tacktical Systems. They're primarily law enforcent supplier. I have no idea about the paint. All I've ever seen is Black & blue for trainer/practice. The yellow mills is interesting!
 

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White, blue and gold are the only colors used at various times for training/practice/dummy ordnance items in the Canadian military that I am aware of.
 
The base of the CTS NFDD is threaded for a 3/8" bolt so the device can be fired as captive if needed.
 
They also used a spike attachment for using it through glass. You would throw it like a spiral football.
 
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