What did I buy??

[hink441]

I was at the gun show in Richmond Va. today and I came across this grenade body. It is painted red over black. I thought it might be a French F1 but I am guessing. I was hoping you guys could help me out here and give me a definite answer from the experts.

Thanks,

Chris

 

[US-Subs]

The red is a little off from the normally seen French red, but the body looks either French or Polish.

 

[dano1917]

Looks alot like practice French WW1 F1. Is that a screw in plug in the base??? Dano

 

[sgtlynn]

I would vote for French practice grenade, likely WWI vintage.

 

[hink441]

Thanks for the comments everyone. Dano I think there is a screw in the base and it is covered with molten lead. Really hard to tell from looking inside or outside. Just for fun I screwed a US MK2 fuze in and she is a little sloppy (loose) threading in, but the fuze does snug up nicely (hand-tight). I wonder what kind of fuze a French F1 would have had? I know they had different types throughout their long use. Any input is greatly appreciated, Thanks.

 

[dano1917]

F1 WW1 French

Hi Hink, In WW1 the French used a multitude of fuzes on the F1. Pictured are the three most common. Left percussion fuze, center slow match fuze and right m1916 Billant automatic fuze (this was the fuze used on the F1's carried by Doughboys in the war).......Dano

 

[Grenademan2005]

Im not totally sure about if it is a WWI body. Can you find two big letters in the two center big squares?

 

[hink441]

I looked at all the segmants and I can't find any marks, numbers or letters. Were the WW1 grenades un-marked and the WW2 marked? Thanks for your comments.

 

[Grenademan2005]

The problem is that your grenade is too round. The for sure WWI ones are the ones with not so rounded shape and with a screw at the base, not a lead plug. I would bet for a between wars practice grenade, the red colour is a little rare as already mentioned by Us-Subs, but it could be due the age, environment, etc. If you look carefully the pics will see that difference on the shape of the body.