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Mills 32M Mk 1 Markings

N

Nickmann101

New Member
Hello,

I received the first grenade to start my collection yesterday and wondered if you could help with some of the markings.

ive done some searching but haven't been able to find details of what I'm seeing.

the first marking is on the lever, half way down it has the letter K with three stars sitting in the V sections that make up the letter. Does anyone know what this signifies?

on the plug It indicates that it's No 36 M Mk 1 but there are some other letters and numbers I've been unable to ID it says 40 PDC, I guess these are the makes mark but couldn't locate them on any of the lists online.

Any information would be really great, I've another two coming this week, rifle grenade and another Mills (not sure of models yet, bought unseen from auction houses).

i will try and add some pics of these markings to help with the identifying!

Thanks
Nick


image.jpgimage.jpg
 
i just remembered, as well as the marking listed above, the body of the grenade also has stamped the letters IBR?

again any help id'ing this would be fantastic.

cheers
Nick


image.jpg
 
K is Kenrick Ltd , IBR is International Boilers & Radiators . I can't remember who PDC is but it's another maker . Hope this helps . Siegfreid.
 
Nick,

IBR - Ideal Boilers & Radiators, Hull
K - Archibald Kenrick & Sons Ltd, Union St, West Bromwich, West Midlands. B70 6DB
PDC - Peterborough Die Castings, Peterborough.

TimG
 
Cheers for the quick answers guys!

Is it common for a grenade to be made up of parts from different makers? Or is this a bit of a Frankenstein?

I guess maybe some companies made different components and they got put together from all over the country?

Nick
 
They were usually all made by one maker , although the filler screws were made by only a few specialists . There are exceptions whereby a some manufacturers contracted out the base plugs & levers to other firms but these are few & far between . Also , your example has a brass filler screw & whilst this is not unknown on WW2 Mills grenades , that's normally associated with WW1 examples . Yours is probably a training grenade as it has holes drilled in it & these often got parts mixed up as they were used for demonstration .
 
mvc-866s.jpgmvc-865s.jpg

Here's some scans of a No36M made by Kenrick with all matching parts . K on the body , base plug & lever . It also has all its original finish & this shows what they should look like . Hope this helps . Siegfreid.
 
Tim

I've got PDC and Patent DieCasting Co, Strode Works, Chase Road, London

John
 
John,

The Trademark for Patent Die Casting is shown as PDC contained within a boundary (see attached). Although it is possible they were the manufacturer, they are shown as making plugs, in this example I doubt it.

Tim
 

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I think that is a 1960's logo. Have you got any detail about the Peterborough Company?
 
It's a 1970's version, but a 1939 listing I have for them has the border. Peterborough Die Casting is merely shown as PDC

TimG
 
Id like to check this against Dave Sampson's website but my computer won't allow access saying the website is a source of Malware.

John
 
John . I posted the problem with Dave's site in Off Topic Discussions . He has replied & there is no malware & it can be accessed through some convoluted procedures . Mike.
 
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