ID help: What is this cast iron grenade? *Lots of photos

[natocollector]

Hi everyone.

Got a hold of a uniqe grenade and I cant find any specs on this item. Who made these?

• Im guessing its an throwing practice grenade.
• It reminds me of a hybrid between a American MKI/II and a British Mills.
• Two piece welded together, or one piece? Cast iron.
• No markings or trader-marks.
• The casting-edges (or the welding between the two bodies?) have been grinded down. The grinding-scars looks like they done it with a electric-disc-grinder, so im guessing this makes it a post 1950´s grenade?

From left: Mills 36, THE UNKNOWN?, MKII Practice



Right and left view:


Front and back view:


Top and bottom view:


Markings from grinding and 2 part body ´split´:

 

[natocollector]

Oh, yea and I got the twin sister also :wink:

 

[Seawitch]

It's a Mills Throwing Prac Grenade. There were numerous versions of these types of grenades. I have several including the one you have here. British Mills Practise Grenade WW1 or WW2.

 

[natocollector]

I dont think its ´home made´. Looks more industerial-production. I know of two other collectors who have one, so that makes 4 of these ´the unknown´. Those collectors neither knows its origin.

 

[Millsman]

I've got one. They were frequently painted a deep red.

They are often linked to local Home Guard production (1940 - 1944), though it is often impossible to trace this back. None have makers marks.

The fact they look more like a No 5 than a No 36 gives the impression the maker was more linked to WW1 use than WW2.

John

 

[Millsman]

Here's my one showing the original paint.



John

 

[Seawitch]

Not sure why my image came out sideways ? was supposed to be upright, but another example which I am sure lots of collectors have. Agree with everything John said in his last post regarding Home Guard WW2 and that they may possibly have been produced earlier for training during WW1.

Sam

 

[natocollector]

I've got one. They were frequently painted a deep red.

They are often linked to local Home Guard production (1940 - 1944), though it is often impossible to trace this back. None have makers marks.

The fact they look more like a No 5 than a No 36 gives the impression the maker was more linked to WW1 use than WW2.

John

Thanks for the info. It would be awesome to track this grenade to its origin, looks like there where a few of them out there....