Mills Grenade Help....

[Darren]

Can anyone tell me, did the No36 1972 Mills grenades have brass or zinc filler screws? I'm looking for one for mine an am thinking I will have to make do with a reproduction so want to find one that will be the closest match.

Thanks,
Darren

 

[butterfly]

did these have filling screws fitted? I'm sure I read somewhere that the last mills produced werent filled and so no filling screws were ever fitted.

I'm sure someone else will correct me on this point if I'm wrong

regards Kev

 

[wilson]

No Filler Screws - Mills 1972

Correct - White Tape sealed hole in sealed plastic bag.

 

[Darren]

Thanks for the reply guys, I knew that these were never filled but I didn't realise that there were never any filler screws manufactured for these. Both of mine came with the white tape across the hole.

Darren

 

[paul the grenade]

they would have had an alloy filler plug the same material as the base plug if they had ever reached the filling station.
paul.

 

[Darren]

they would have had an alloy filler plug the same material as the base plug if they had ever reached the filling station.
paul.

Thanks for the info Paul, I've still got a lot to learn about the grenades as that is not my main area of collecting.

Darren

 

[Millsman]

I've left mine in the bag with the tape intact. The final part of the UK Mills history. Take it out of the bag, add a plug and that history is lost.

John

 

[gothica7]

I agree with you there John, all but 2 of mine are treated the same.

Andy

 

[Bonnex]

Can anyone tell me, did the No36 1972 Mills grenades have brass or zinc filler screws? I'm looking for one for mine an am thinking I will have to make do with a reproduction so want to find one that will be the closest match.

Thanks,
Darren

It would be normal for the manufacturer of empty No 36 grenades to supply the complete item including the filler plug which, for the 1971* design (made in 1972) was made of aluminium alloy to BS1474 anodised; the same material was used for the baseplug. Of course if any were filled then a filler plug was an absoute requirement. I expect, but don't know, that filler plugs for the WMR empty grenades were made and supplied separately - there is a plastic bag somewhere containing a couple of hundred perhaps
I dont believe I have seen a filled 1972 manufacture No 36. I have seen filled HE 1970 manufacture and filled 1970 practice with 1972 baseplugs. [The date on the centrepiece being the more reliable date when aging these 1970/2 types]. The last modification to design drawings that I have found so far is June 1974 but that does not mean any were made.


* very minor changes drawn up by ROF Patricroft