Whatizit???

[Trenchwarfare]

This piece was posted on another forum. Supposedly WWI vintage. F1 type body but, whatizit? I found a Polish/Vietnamese F1 rifle grenade, that looks kinda sorta similar.

 

[US-Subs]

Keep in mind that Viet Nam was a French colony for many years, with a significant amount of French ordnance used there. Many French pieces were found by US forces that had been modified and used by the Vietnamese. These may not have specific model numbers, but remain a valid part of the region's history.

 

[.*.*.]

Trenchwarfare I am intrigued also - can you tell us which forum you saw this posted ? It looks really good and I think US-Subs has got it spot on, what a great fiind. Is it for sale on this forum and if so how much is it going for. Thanks

 

[dano1917]

Yes, French WW1 Citron Foug bodies made their way to Vietnam also. That one pictured looks like an F1.......Dano

 

[Trenchwarfare]

Grenade is posted on Gunboards Forums. Both Collector's forum, and WWI. Was supposedly shipped back from France 1918-1919. No doubt it is an F1 style body. With the step, and dual material extension, I'm leaning towards some sort of spiggot rifle grenade. If that's the case, there's some type of sgiggot launcher out there.

 

[bones92]

This came back with an Army Ordnance officer.

I may try to carefully disassemble the metal tube to see what is inside. I was told that there was a pin that went through the ring at the end of the metal tube. By pulling the pin out, the wood handle was either pushed in or pulled out to stike a fuse primer, thus arming the grenade. But he could possibly be confusing this with what he heard about "potato-masher" grenades.

The partial remains of a ring around the base of the wood handle would seem to imply some sort of use in a spigot launcher (perhaps).

 

[paul the grenade]

Heres another unknown F1 rifle gren i have. the rod is about 1o inches long and hollow. the pin is pulled which will then allow the propelling gases to travel up the rod and light the fuze. anyone got any ideas?
Paul.

 

[Trenchwarfare]

I agree Bones, the metal ring looks like a gas seal of sorts. It most likely did have a safety pin/ring. Then was armed by inertia from firing. (If a rifle grenade) Same with your's Paul. Ve-dy intedesting, but confusing.

 

[bones92]

Well, the two screws that hold the fuse assembly to the metal tube are not moving, and I don't want to bugger them.

I should clarify... the wood rod moves almost an inch in and out, and I can align the dowel, the ring and the tube body to where the holes all line up. The wood dowel hits something solid in the tube body; I'm guessing there is a primer or striker.

I wonder if the fuze assembly looks like the ones seen on many F1 grenades (i.e. a short cylinder fuze), and this one was mounted in the tube for the purpose of being fired from a spigot or rifle-mounted launcher.

 

[Trenchwarfare]

Bump. Any Ideas?

 

[bones92]

I was wondering if anyone found out something on this. I know a few of you have been polling the experts across Europe.

 

[V40]

I know that this is not a rifle grenade and that it possibly could be a "home made" grenade from Vietnam.
I'll look it up when I get back.

 

[V40]

I cannot find one in my Vietnam collection of books on grenades. It might be a Spigot launched grenade, but one thing still bothers me. Is wood strong enough to handle the pressures or are they generally not much on a spigot launcher?

The only comparison that I could use as my test base is the PIAT, and other than that I am still confused about that method?

Bottom line Guys, I am not very well versed on that whole system. Can someone here give me the "Readers Digest" condensed version of this "Spigot Launched" system?:tinysmile_eyebrow_t:tinysmile_cry_t2: