Unknown chemical handgrenade - ID please

[US Military Guy]

The body appears to be copper. You will notice where the end of the fuze spoon has worn the paint. A magnet will not stick to the body. The word "CHEMICAL" is barely visible on the body. All other markings are too faint to read.



It has a 1956 dated M205 A2 fuze.



The fuze has what appears to be epoxy around the threads and it has been in a machinist's vice, which marked the body.

 

[US-Subs]

Don't recognize it, but offer the following comments -
The remnants of markings on your piece do not look military, if genuine they are most likely civilian. There were a lot of commercial companies, both well known and virtually unknown smaller ones, which produced a number of RCA type grenades and other delivery systems through the 30's-60's. Your item does not look like the normally seen varieties (Federal, Lake Erie, S&W, Penguin, etc.), but there were many companies that would come and go, all with their own designs. The fuze could be original or stuck on by someone years after. Unfortunately unless you find the item in an original dealers catalog there is only one publication that covers these (Tear Gas Munitions by Swearengen, 1966(?)) An excellent book, but he stayed mostly with the major manufacturers and military.

Keep in mind also that "chemical" prior to about 1970 generally meant the war gases, riot control (RCA) and smoke as well.

 

[US Military Guy]

I agree with your observations - especially the part about the markings not looking military.

I do not believe that the body is proper for the fuze, which is why there is the epoxy type substance around the fuze. It appears to be a "Gee whiz look what I glued together! Doesn't this look cool?" type of creation.

With a solid brass (?) body, there is no way for the chemical to disburse without rupturing the body, which would produce fragments as well as disbursing the chemical.

This item was presented to me by the local Police Department for identification. I said I would try to get it identified and if I am unsuccessful, they will call the EOD and take care of it. The individual that presented it to the PD would like to have it back, but everybody involved understands the danger of the unknown. Nobody knows what it is, best to let the EOD handle it.

 

[weberoed]

Of course the M 205 is a detonating fuze, this grenade (or fuze) was manufactured by Security Signals Inc , if Cordova, Tennessee. I would X ray this device and of course not try to remove the fuze. I have a couple drawings that are similar to this one, and they are referred to as dispersal devices. The drawings came from an old friend who was very deep in to chem bio weapons. But with the red on the handle (just an opinion) and from what I can read in pic one (chemical) I'm betting an old riot control, as Jeff suggests. Maybe military since Security Signal had several DoD contracts up until around 1979.

 

[Eodtek]

Of course the M 205 is a detonating fuze

The M205 is an igniting fuze containing a black powder charge. The M204 is a detonating fuze.

 

[Yodamaster]

Generally use with practice grenades. See the blue color and brown tip of the lever.
Blue > practice
Brown > pyrotechnic charge


Yoda

 

[weberoed]

right on the M 205, I had just opened my M 26 pub and saw the nomenclature not realizing it for the M30 or 62 practice fuze. Still an interesting fuze for a enclosed grenade body -

 

[Yodamaster]

Some grenade need a pyrotechnic initiation in place of a detonating initiation if the main charge is pyrotechnic in place of HE.
See some MK II grenades filled with ACpowder, the fuze (serie M10) is pyrotechnical and not detonating.


Yoda