Unknown Drill Grenade

[jvollenberg]

Any ideas on this item? The museum has it as a British Mills Drill Grenade. I am wondering which one of the Mills this is, or is even based on the Mills, or something else.

Dia: 59-MM
Length: 98-MM


Joe

 

[Millsman]

It's an early Mills centre cast throwing practice grenade. Unlike most Mills grenades these centre cast grenades were made from a top and a bottom joined in the middle. When they were cast they only had the vertical frag grooves. In the full grenade the horizontal grooves were cut in on a lathe. An expensive process. By the end of 1915 early 1916 the centre cast had died out, making all subsequent Mills Grenades side cast. i.e a front and a back with the join at the side.

Nice grenade and far better condition than the one I have.

John

 

[sgtlynn]

Actually, I think its a Canadian Throwing dummy, Not often you find them with the original pin in place, most have been replaced.

 

[jvollenberg]

Why do you think it is Canadian?

Joe

 

[sgdbdr]

Joe,


Look here : https://joesalter.ca/products/ww1-or-ii-practice-grenade
Not a definitive proof, but a clue.

Regards,

S.

 

[millsbomber]

I agree with Sgtlynn only because so many used to turn up in Canada for sale

 

[jvollenberg]

So what would the nomenclature on this be? I would think NO. 5 center cast, practice.

Joe

 

[Snufkin]

So what would the nomenclature on this be? I would think NO. 5 center cast, practice.

Joe

No.5 Grenade, Dummy for Throwing Practice, as stamped on some base plugs - see attached.

The term centre cast (or center cast) is to be avoided. It is completely meaningless, is not an engineering term and is not encountered in period documentation.




Tom.