RFX M21 practice pineapple resurrection

[dano1917]

A few months back I had bought an original RFX M21 practice pineapple US grenade that had been repainted olive drab (left photo). This morning I went out to the shed and stripped off the olive drab. I don't think I could have scripted a better result. Under the olive drab is the original practice blue and it even came out with a beautiful patina. The fuse ended up being a M205A dated 2-54. The right photo shows complete grenade after stripping. I love it. Total project cost including grenade cost - about 30.00!!....Dano

 

[GTR003121]

Great results Dano, if only all repaints cleaned up that nice!

The fuze body is an M205A2 and the spoon is correct for the early M205A2's. As stocks of the flat spoon ran out, they switched to the more complex rolled edge type.

 

[dano1917]

Great results Dano, if only all repaints cleaned up that nice!

The fuze body is an M205A2 and the spoon is correct for the early M205A2's. As stocks of the flat spoon ran out, they switched to the more complex rolled edge type.

Thanks Justin, I could not have been happier with the end result. BTW would like your opinion of the m30/62 I got that is also threaded in the bottom. It is also obviously blue under the OD paint but the OD paint appears old and done early. Was thinkng it may have been a live practice (because of being threaded both in top and bottom) and painted OD by US, so wondring if I should leave it be or strip it to blue? Or am I pissing up a rope?? It is obviously the left hand grenade in photo.............Dano

 

[GTR003121]

It's hard to say with any certainty if your M30 is in fact an M50 live practice. It's certainly got some of the features and doesn't look like it was painted anytime recently so you have that in your corner. They usually put a yellow band around the top, but I can't say for certain that it was done to all of them.

I would leave it alone. If it's a real M50, you will be destroying it by playing with the paint. But M30 bodies aren't that hard to get so why risk it?

 

[dano1917]

It's hard to say with any certainty if your M30 is in fact an M50 live practice. It's certainly got some of the features and doesn't look like it was painted anytime recently so you have that in your corner. They usually put a yellow band around the top, but I can't say for certain that it was done to all of them.

I would leave it alone. If it's a real M50, you will be destroying it by playing with the paint. But M30 bodies aren't that hard to get so why risk it?

Thanks Justin, I'll go on the assumption that it is an m50 and leave the OD paint on it. I can get the m30's any time reasonably. Can't think of any other reason why it would have 2 sets of threads....Dano

 

[hink441]

Hey Dano, not trying to start a dogfight, but are the threads the same size? Could it possibly be threaded to fit on a book shelf or lamp base? Not trying to be a smarta#@, just asking the question. Thanks, Hink

 

[dano1917]

Hey Dano, not trying to start a dogfight, but are the threads the same size? Could it possibly be threaded to fit on a book shelf or lamp base? Not trying to be a smarta#@, just asking the question. Thanks, Hink

Good question Hink, But threads are different as the fuze will not screw in bottom. I have the thread size written down somewhere as I tested it with taps but can't seem to find right now...Dano