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Japanese last ditch improvised grenade

Lou

Lou

Well-Known Member
Was wondering if anyone had any info on Japanese last ditch,improvised, home made grenade type munitions? Ive picked up what was advertised and seems to be some type of rough made metal grenade body,a cylinder with a brazed on cap on one end and open on the other. Id like to reproduce what plugged the open end and held the fuze.

The cylinder is 80mm tall with a 43mm O.D. and has a heavy coat of varnish. I had doubts when I first bought it but there are signs that it was at one time plugged and traces of what it once held.

Im hoping someone might have a TM or field bulletin listing Japanese WWII home made items.
 
Some were documented, can you post a picture?
 
Sure thing,,,,

I wondered if it would have a crude plug or maybe something along the lines of a ChiCom/VC MIN stick type handle?
 

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Here's a pic of one very similar a friend of mine has, and he sent pics to Lex. Looks like same type.

http://www.lexpev.nl/grenades/middleeastasia/japan/unknowntype.html

Yours looks to have a little of the yellow picric acid traces left inside.

I',m not so sure about the .22 cal. shell though, I'm not sure a "U" mark like that is WW2 vintage .22 shell, and if that is even original to the grenade.
I'm not sure they even would have used a .22 shell for ignition.

Instead...I think these probably used a length of time fuze like a "bickford" type fuse that would be lit with a match and then thrown, instead of the .22 shell.
 
Here's a page out of a WW2 Australian pub on Jap. equipment. Not sure as this is the same, but at least shows what one looks like.
 

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Slick said:
Here's a page out of a WW2 Australian pub on Jap. equipment. Not sure as this is the same, but at least shows what one looks like.
Click to expand...


I don't think it's a Type 98A stick grenade head, it's too long, and if it's an improvised stick grenade head of some type, it doesn't have any holes to attach to a stick?
 
Steve!!!! You get the banana for recognising the residue!!!!!

And no holes to pin,tack or screw the body to anything. Im thinking friction fit with varnish or some other type of glue. Similar to the way the stick Rick just showed is glued, but minus the set screws.
 
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Lou said:
Steve!!!! You get the banana for recognising the residue!!!!!
And no holes to pin,tack or screw the body to anything. Im thinking friction fit with varnish or some other type of glue. Similar to the way the stick Rick just showed is glued, but minus the set screws.
Click to expand...


I'm confused, so you think it's a stick grenade similar like Rick showed minus the set screws?

Did you look at my friends grenade in the link I posted to Lexpev?

It's almost the exact size as yours if the measurements you gave of yours are correct. I think it's one of those, and just had a simple burn fuze.

Any idea where yours was found?
 
The .22 cartridge is correct to the grenade actually. I think this is a gas pipe grenade of the type made on Luzon during the war. See attached for more information.
 

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sgtlynn said:
The .22 cartridge is correct to the grenade actually. I think this is a gas pipe grenade of the type made on Luzon during the war. See attached for more information.
Click to expand...


Interesting, guess the .22 blank? or with the bullet pulled was used. I wonder what they used as a delay, and how long a delay.

Some still used a length of time fuze, I've seen pics of others with this time fuze that had to be lit installed in them.
 
The .22 was used to ignite the delay fuze, I expect simply a piece of safety fuze or whatever. Also allowed for use the same as the normal Japanese grenade, smack it on your helmet and throw. I suspect a lot of misfires :tinysmile_twink_t:
 
Kilroy was Here said:
I'm confused, so you think it's a stick grenade similar like Rick showed minus the set screws?

Did you look at my friends grenade in the link I posted to Lexpev?

It's almost the exact size as yours if the measurements you gave of yours are correct. I think it's one of those, and just had a simple burn fuze.

Any idea where yours was found?
Click to expand...

Yes sir I looked. The one you pointed out is similar, but, the one clue that I couldnt capture in the photos before was another residue,or mark on the inside,as if a stick or plug made of wood was at one time glued aprox 3/4 of an inch in. You can see a faint line that marks the end of the PA and the begining of what I believe to be the area where the plug or stick made contact with the body?? I added little arrows to indicate where that line is.

So,Im guessing either a wooden plug or maybe a stick.
 

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Lou said:
Yes sir I looked. The one you pointed out is similar, but, the one clue that I couldnt capture in the photos before was another residue,or mark on the inside,as if a stick or plug made of wood was at one time glued aprox 3/4 of an inch in. You can see a faint line that marks the end of the PA and the begining of what I believe to be the area where the plug or stick made contact with the body?? I added little arrows to indicate where that line is.

So,Im guessing either a wooden plug or maybe a stick.
Click to expand...


OK. I think it was maybe a plug of some type. If it was a stick for a handle, I would think they would have used a couple crude nails or screws to hold it in securely. Who knows, anything is possible with improvised items.

Nice find for your collection.
 
Lots of variations in last ditch WW2 IEDs, as there are now. No standards.

Oh, and Lou, nice arrow work there.
 

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Lou, I believe your grenade is of the "gas pipe" variety, with a pressure fit wood plug. Here are my three improvised. Left: Type previously discussed, with .22 blank igniter. Pressure fit, metal top. Found on Luzon. Center, is a "Manchuria Grenade" With screw in top, and standard fuse. Right: Improvised using a 25MM shell casing, with wooden plug, and simple fuse. Also found on Luzon. (My favorite)
 

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Just caught up with the thread!!!!! Nice!!!! Thanks for your help guys,I appreciate it!!!

What Id like to do is hopefully make a repro plug for this. Any ideas of what type of wood I could use????
 
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