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WW1 No. 5-1 CentreCcast Mills Bomb

P

Poddy The Poacher

Member
During the 1980's, I bought a grenade penholder, mounted on a wooden plynth from a militaria shop for my desk at home. After years in the loft after our last housemove, I decided to take the grenade off the base for display with my other military artifacts. I discovered that the grenade was in fact an inert WW1 centre cast No. 5-1 Mills Bomb with an alloy base plug, a date of August 1915 and a makers mark which appears to be, F ( a sword ) W. there is also what appears to be a stylized ' r ' stamped into the top of the casting. All the internals are present ( alloy tube and ventless striker) except for the fuse, along with a grooved handle. Unfortunately the base plug was drilled and tapped to enable the grenade to be fixed to the wooden plynth.

Can anyone help with identifying the maker of either or both the grenade body and the base plug please ?.Royal Ordanance display.jpgMakers Mark.jpgInternals.jpgBase Plug.jpgRoyal Ordanance display 2.jpg





Thanks, Poddy
 
I think the markings on the base plug my origanaly have been E(B in sword)W but have been worn down. I think it may be the same maker as this one QLQL114-018.jpg
 
Edwards Bros. of Birmingham . I've never seen one of their plugs in alloy & the date is nice & early . Stunning grenade ! BTW , the lever is probably from a No23.
 
The chances of finding an original lever are remote as people seldom sell them . When they do turn up , the prices are stratospheric . The filler screw was probably alloy but could also have been brass . If you need an original brass one , let me know as I have several spares . Mike.
 
One of the problems finding an original type lever is that they were each drilled through making a match to the holes often difficult. From my experience about one in five drilled levers fits a grenade first time.

It's the first EWB Alloy plug I've seen too. However, the date of 0-15 looks odd and the central hole is for fixing to the base so it's 'mullered'.

John
 
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Hi Millsman,
thanks for the info. The 0 is actually an 8 which makes it August and you're right, it's proper mullered but with the expertise of a well known defence company from where I've just retired, I should be able to get it professionally filled. I don't think I'll be able to replace it if it's the first one that both you and Siegfreid have seen. I'll just have to wait to see if a correct lever turns up.
 
Geoff. It would be nice if you could get the broken lug repaired at the same time , that grenade is worth some effort . Mike.
 
Hi Geoff

The fact that it's an 8 means it was manufactured just a production rates increased and volume deliveries started to the trenches.

There are levers around (see my spares), but they have to be matched to the body. Best place to find them is the French Military fairs.

John

DSCN5034.JPG
 
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Poddy The Poacher said:
Hi Millsman,
thanks for the info. The 0 is actually an 8 which makes it August and you're right, it's proper mullered but with the expertise of a well known defence company from where I've just retired, I should be able to get it professionally filled. I don't think I'll be able to replace it if it's the first one that both you and Siegfreid have seen. I'll just have to wait to see if a correct lever turns up.
Click to expand...

Personally I would keep the plug 'as is'.
 
Nice set of plugs, what's the rod bit sticking out on the plug in the picture to the right. As for the broken lug I would say leave it alone as a bad repair or hint of a repair would devalue the piece. Welding cast iron is difficult to do at the best of times.
 
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