Hales no 2 '303' grenade

[Burney Davis]

I have had this grenade for a while but have not been able to find out the significance of the '303' number under the script. There is no question in my mind that it is original. Anyone have any ideas or reference on the subject?

Thanks

D

 

[paul the grenade]

ive not seen one like it before. normally the lettering goes round the circumference, not top to bottom, maybe bonnex will know,

 

[vinnyw]

Im going to dig mine out of the box and take a look.
Vinny:tinysmile_twink_t:

 

[Bonnex]

ive not seen one like it before. normally the lettering goes round the circumference, not top to bottom, maybe bonnex will know,

Thanks for sight of the grenade. It is certainly Hales of course but not the version that became the No 2 (which was smaller). I do not know for sure but I expect this, large size, rifle grenade is just pre-WW1. As you can see from the photograph the grenade was fitted with either a 24 segment fragmentation collar or a 28 segment collar (maybe other variations) but the empty weight for both is about a pound. The body diameter is about 1.5 inches.

A bit of a guess but the orientation of the lettering may be to do with advertising, this model could have featured in a photograph for sales purposes. The other grenades in the photograph have the conventional marking.

The photograph shows a pretty ordinary No 2 grenade body for comparison purposes.

Sorry this answer is a bit speculative, the pre-war work of Hales and the CP Co is not particularly well documented in my view. Somewhere in the world there will be original sales catalogues so if you happen across any please let me know!

 

[millsbomber]

Found This picture while looking through the web,,,,, Dave

 

[Bonnex]

Thanks Dave, here is another picture taken in my shed

 

[siegfreid]

Aaaaargh !!!!!!!!!!

 

[SG500]

What is the pointed one that is on the front row, third from the left and third from the right?

Dave.

 

[millsbomber]

Thanks Dave, here is another picture taken in my shed


View attachment 84835

Norman go in the shed and take a better picture please ....... Dave

 

[Bonnex]

What is the pointed one that is on the front row, third from the left and third from the right?

Dave.

I wish I knew. It could be one of Hales Illuminating Grenades or maybe just a container.