WW2 Russian "Workshop" F1 Grenade

[Kilroy was Here]

Here's are some pics to share of what I believe to be a WW2 Russian "Workshop" F1 Grenade from one of the many small shops that made grenades for the war effort.

It's a very crude and odd shaped F1 body, with many hand filing marks all over it.

 

[Tmine35]

Could the hand filing be done post war for some reason? I see no point in filing a cast surface smooth for the item's original purpose.
I have a Russian WW2 F1 with similar flat bottom as yours, but it's not filed.

 

[ben2000]

pitting

Could this have been a relic gren that has been rather over enthusiastically cleaned up with a file?

 

[Kilroy was Here]

Hi Reino and Ben, after looking closely at them, I really don't think so, but I could be wrong. I think if the neck and bottom was not so strange on this F1 body with the "dots", I would possibly think it was maybe done to fix a relic grenade. I am by no means an expert on Russian F1's. But I have have found three of these F1's with these marks, and they came from different places. But who knows, anything is possible I would think.

F1's are fascinating to me, It seems endless the amount of variations of bodies. Interesting that many F1's when they were newly made were just a poor casting, and had "pits" in the metal. Many people when they see these "pits" assume this was caused from rust. They were just made and cast this way. It just shows again that the Russians did not care about making grenades and other war items "pretty", just functional.......and also in Massive quantities :tinysmile_twink_t2:

Here are pics of three more I have found that are strange shaped. Also a pics of a few other F1's to show the comparison of the casting quality and shape differences of F1's.
It may be hard to see in the pics, so have tried to take a few angles. I think this filing might have been done when the bodies were made. Interesting the one with flat bottom has a similar very crude looking "wk"? marking as two others in the pics.

I hope I will not be boring everyone with this. I am hoping to maybe learn more from others also.


TO ALL MY AMERICAN FRIENDS OUT THERE.........
HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY TOMORROW!!

 

[Grenademan2005]

Im sorry, but I also bet for the cleaning tool. Here is one of my F1 which I think was clearly cleaned from some heavy rust spots.

 

[grenades]

I can say taht this F1's was cleaned for 100%

 

[Grenademan2005]

You know it very well... :nerd:.

 

[grenades]

I never clean items like this.Im useing acid when item has paint or electrolisys when item is very rusty.

 

[Kilroy was Here]

OK guys, thanks for opinions. You might be right, but I still think the "wk" F1, and the F1 with "round dots" around the neck and base look like these grenades were made this way.

Either way, to my eyes, :nerd: these grenades are not just "regular" or "normal" looking F1 bodies, especially the body with "round dots" around base and neck, and the "wk" marked F1. The "round dots" around neck and base I think are very strange to see.

Eugene "Jhonni" had shown a while back a couple of what he called "workshop" F1 grenades, but do not remember exact details of them, but I do remember they were also not too pretty.

 

[Tmine35]

I know a fellow who has been digging 1939-40 battlefields here for years. He once showed me approximately 20 different F1-shells he had collected, all had been cast with slightly different cast mould patterns.
I assume the patterns made for sand cast moulds have been made "just about".

 

[Grenademan2005]

I never clean items like this.Im useing acid when item has paint or electrolisys when item is very rusty.

Was just a joke.

 

[Grenademan2005]

I know a fellow who has been digging 1939-40 battlefields here for years. He once showed me approximately 20 different F1-shells he had collected, all had been cast with slightly different cast mould patterns.
I assume the patterns made for sand cast moulds have been made "just about".

In a couple of years I have bought some dozens of F1 for sell them here at Spain, I dont remember have seen two equals.

 

[Kilroy was Here]

I know a fellow who has been digging 1939-40 battlefields here for years. He once showed me approximately 20 different F1-shells he had collected, all had been cast with slightly different cast mould patterns.
I assume the patterns made for sand cast moulds have been made "just about".

Interesting Reino, I think there must be 100's if not 1000's of small differences in the wartime F1's. A person could never collect all of them.
But I am off to a good start to try! :tinysmile_twink_t2:

 

[dano1917]

Beauty

That is a beauty Steve. I like the expedient or artisan grenades of both world wars. The Germans in WW1 had many artisan shop made grenades because of the sheer number that were needed for the Verdun offensive. The artisan or civilian shop made grenades should have a catagory all to themselves. This would include all field expedients including the numerous petards. I'd be proud to have that F1...............Dano

 

[Kilroy was Here]

That is a beauty Steve. I like the expedient or artisan grenades of both world wars. The Germans in WW1 had many artisan shop made grenades because of the sheer number that were needed for the Verdun offensive. The artisan or civilian shop made grenades should have a catagory all to themselves. This would include all field expedients including the numerous petards. I'd be proud to have that F1...............Dano

Hi Dano, thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed seeing these odd F1's. I thought maybe others would like to see them also.

Oh yeah Dano! I also like the "expedient or artisan" "improvised" - or "workshop- cottage industry" grenades, whatever you want to call them. :wink: