Mills Throwing Practice Grenade

[Millsman]

A couple of months ago forum pal DodgyDave mailed me to say he had picked up a Mills and would I be interested?

Yesterday we met up at Chatham and he showed my his find. A Throwing practice Mills 36 (or 23 / III) with wooden plugs, filled with sand and an interesting red / yellow paint scheme.


A very reasonable amount of dosh changed hands and I was the new owner. So many thanks Dave for thinking of me. When I got home I noticed the makers mark was offset. I then realised it was a maker I had no record of. It's marked M'DS.


Here's some photos of this interesting addition to my collection of throwing practice Mills.

I've also been asked to identify a Mills 36 / 23 Mk III marked F MS. The F is sideways and above the MS. Any ideas? I think the F might be a cast mark and MS the maker.

John


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[millsbomber]

Very nice unusual mills, I have only 1 with wood chips inside.
Mc DS is as close I come to that makers mark ......Dave

 

[Millsman]

That's close Dave. Possibly the same company. Who were they?

John

 

[Snufkin]

Same company: McDowall, Steven & Co., Falkirk.



Tom.

 

[Millsman]

Thanks Tom

It turns out I do have a record for them in fact 2 records McDS 5 and M.D.S & Co. So I can add M'DS to the set!

Is the other one MS another variant?

John

 

[Millsman]

Another throwing practice Mills.

I got this at Detling Military Odyssey and it is a beautiful piece of casting.

It's like an unfinished Transverse (Centre ) Cast grenade but the shoulders are spectacular. It looks like a piece of sculpture.

Photo below.

John