2 today arrivals

[dano1917]

I got these 2 inert grenades in todays post via Gun Broker. First is a dummy US WW1 MK1. It is a sand cast mold but much nicer than the previous one I got that had buggers blown all over it from different sources. The sand cast units are a bit rougher than their regular mold counterparts but I really like this one. Second really took me by surprise. It is a practice m1917 German egg grenade with the holes bored above the grip ring which is a bit out of the norm. If you look closely you can see red paint under the black. The base marking (C7) is one I had not yet encountered which I will add the variant on that old egg grenade base marking thread from way back when. Nothing rare here but I am proud to get them and are a welcome addition to the trench. The holes bored in the egg (there are 4 of them), are period as corrosion matches and are about 3/16" in diameter and the 4 holes are concentric and spaced exactly equal. I'll not mess with this one as I think it has much class as is. Dano out

 

[18pounder]

Hello dano

ive never really collected practice/dummy grenades,they just dont do it for me.
But i do like to see the various types.
The first pineapple,is it a fake of a practice?
The german grenade:isnt it supposed to be red,has someone painted it black to make it like a operational one?
I only ask that because sand casting is a way to fake a grenade.
No offence intended.
Nice grenades mate.
Did you get them from the UK?
Hope you are well.The UK is very cold at the moment,and with much snow falling.
Regards

 

[dano1917]

Hi Doug, No offense taken whatsoever. First the MK1 is a legit dummy grenade. It seems that about half were made in sand molds, I would think as an expense measure. Some are very crude and some not so crude. Again about half of them I have encountered are of the sand cast variety. The m1917 egg, if you look at the picture closely there is red paint under the black. for whatever reason someone (years ago) painted over the red with black. I'll not try to get the black off as I think in my mind it sort of shows a collecting history and obviously the repaint was done years ago (1960's 1970's???) and it holds a certain charm to me, but that's me. It is all in the eye of the beholder. On the egg it is the 2nd I have owned with the holes above the grip ring, with the norm having the holes bored below the grip ring. No great value, I just like 'em...Dano

 

[vinnyw]

I got these 2 inert grenades in todays post via Gun Broker. First is a dummy US WW1 MK1. It is a sand cast mold but much nicer than the previous one I got that had buggers blown all over it from different sources. The sand cast units are a bit rougher than their regular mold counterparts but I really like this one. Second really took me by surprise. It is a practice m1917 German egg grenade with the holes bored above the grip ring which is a bit out of the norm. If you look closely you can see red paint under the black. The base marking (C7) is one I had not yet encountered which I will add the variant on that old egg grenade base marking thread from way back when. Nothing rare here but I am proud to get them and are a welcome addition to the trench. The holes bored in the egg (there are 4 of them), are period as corrosion matches and are about 3/16" in diameter and the 4 holes are concentric and spaced exactly equal. I'll not mess with this one as I think it has much class as is. Dano out

Ha Dano,I have some info you might like,the German WW1 egg grenade was one of my first gernades when I started collecting them about 31 years ago,the first one I bought like yours with the shipping fuse also came in a leather pouch,the old timers at that time told me in was to keep the static electricy down,since the grenade and the rest of the case could ignite them.I have nevery seen any info on it though,but it makes sence to me.
Vinny

 

[Eodtek]

It is a practice m1917 German egg grenade with the holes bored above the grip ring which is a bit out of the norm....The holes bored in the egg (there are 4 of them), are period as corrosion matches and are about 3/16" in diameter and the 4 holes are concentric and spaced exactly equal.

The holes are most likely "Inert Holes" sometimes called "Idiot Holes" done to make the item inert by military standards. I used to see it quite frequently and have a few items that have been altered that way.

The norm is 1/4" holes spaced 90 degrees apart but on smaller items they were 1/8" to 3/16" depending on the person that did it.

 

[Eodtek]

The holes bored in the egg (there are 4 of them), are period as corrosion matches and are about 3/16" in diameter and the 4 holes are concentric and spaced exactly equal.

Dano,

Here is my body with the "inerting holes" in them. As you can see my amusement is compounded by the fact that they still put a giant EOD INERT sticker on the item.

BTW, this was a scrap heap recovery pulled from the trash pile almost 5 years after the unit closed.

 

[dano1917]

Hi eodtek, are my eyes deceiving me or is that an "odd shapped" egg grenade? Dano

 

[Eodtek]

It's upside down because I was in a hurry to photograph it.

 

[dano1917]

Still looks somewhat mis-shapen as I realize it is upside down. The top (which is on bottom) looks fatter than normal or are my eyes playing tricks on me? Dano

 

[Eodtek]

No idea. It could be the angle of the photo. I'll take a few more today and post them up for you to look at and maybe you will be able to tell.

Photo added. I believe you are right, it does look different. Now if I can dig up a tripod I can get a clearer photo. I have another body lying around somewhere so I'll see if I can do a comparison for you.

Yep, it is different.