WW1 F1 grenade with 1916 Billant fuze

[dano1917]

I have been after one of these for a while (the fuze anyway) and it came in todays post. It is the French WW1 1915 F1 grenade with the 1916 Billant automatic fuze. I just love this grenade set up. The U.S. Doughboys used it more than any other grenade in France during WW1. With the failure of the MKI grenade the F1 and OF1 French grenade were adopted. The MKII fuze was loosely based on the design.....Dano

 

[hink441]

Nice find Dano!!, I really like the F1 alot and I would like to acquire one myself.

 

[dano1917]

Thanks hink, The grenade bodies are around and they're cheap if you go for the percussion fuze. It is the Billant automatic fuze that drives the price up. I'm sure they're alot more common in Europe than here in the states........Dano

 

[MissingSomething]

Very nice Dano... you find some great stuff...