Kenrick & Sons No36 Mk1

[Fragman]

Hi, I'm in the process of cleaning up a No36 MkI Mills made by Kenrick. It has the soft internal washer waterproofing the centre piece, so probably dates from around 1918. At some stage it has been painted black. Under the black paint is the remnants of red paint on the top row of the frag matrix. This red paint does not look to have been continuous or crosses. Where there other patterns used?

also, I'm after a Kenrick lever and base plug, if you have spares (happy to pay or I can trade similar items)

cheers

 

[siegfreid]

That's a WW2 one . The filler screw is Mazak & the red marks are the remains of crosses . WW1 British grenades of ANY type marked with ORIGINAL crosses are incredibly rare . I think I've only ever seen 2 or 3 . Hope this helps . Mike.

 

[Fragman]

Thanks Mike

 

[Millsman]

WW1 filler screws are normally brass or sometimes cast iron. Stand out by a mile.

John

 

[BMG50]

Wait at the back of the queue for a Kendrick base plug and lever, quite a few people are after these, including myself.

 

[Fragman]

Hi guys. Thanks for your comments. I'm not sure if the filling plug is original to the grenade, so have given it the benefit of the doubt and teamed it up with a brass one. It looks good next to a 1917 dated mills made by Mills Munitions. Thanks for the PMs offering Kenrick parts, you guys are legends. Cheers

 

[BMG50]

Anyone have a spare Kendrick lever?

 

[siegfreid]

Can you post a pic of the centre tube in your one ? WW1 tubes are usually quite different & most WW2 tubes will be stamped with a Z .

 

[Fragman]

Hi Mike, here's a couple of pics of the centre tube and one of the sealing washer. The most obvious feature of the centre tube is that the face that seats the anvil is slightly rounded. Cheers

 

[siegfreid]

Difficult one . That centre tube is definitely WW1 but I've never seen a similar one in conjunction with the lead sealing washer . This is not to say it didn't happen , just I've never seen it . So , you have numerous possible explanations , genuine WW1 "X" marked No 36M [as apposed to normal No 36] but with a WW2 filler screw or a genuine WW2 No 36M that's had a WW1 centre tube fitted at some time . We'll probably never know . I must stress again though , WW1 British grenades with the ORIGINAL red "X" marking for a non hygroscopic filling & better sealing are INCREDIBLY rare . If your one is indeed an WW1 production grenade , it's probably the only one there is around !

 

[Snufkin]

It's a centre piece for a No.5 or No.23I/II. It seems most likely a lonesome WWII casing into which someone has shoved a No.5 c-p.



Tom.

 

[siegfreid]

I agree with Tom that's the most likely explanation BUT , as with all things Mills , there are always exceptions . I have personally owned original , relic condition No 36's from WW1 that were fitted with No 5 type centre tubes corroded in place . Not many but enough to say they did exist . Mike .

 

[Fragman]

Thanks for your comments. It's now been banished back to the shelf and will simply be referred to as a No36 MkI. Cheers