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MK II fragmentaion grenade body

DEADLINE222

Well-Known Member
I have what I believe is a vintage MK II body. It is most definitely not a $8.00 cast reproduction.

It is stamped "AA" and also has a "3" on it.

It has a solid bottom with no fill hole.

The fuse is not original; I paid $5.00 for it at a gun show.

I purchased the body at an antique mall, in which I paid $10.00.

What do you think?

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Hey Deadline

It's such a shame that there are people out there who would take advantage of the less experienced collector and sell off stuff like that, with claims of how pricelss, etc. an item might be. It makes me feel so badly for you that I will offer to give you what you paid for that AND pay shipping costs to my home. In order that you won't be out any money on this obvious act by charlatans scamming a new collector. :)

Actually, a damned fine specimen. Even with the new paint job. Check around the assorted online auctions and you'll see just how well you did with that buy. Congrats.

Rick
 
Cool.

It sat in one of my far off collection rooms for several years. I never really took it seriously because I never found a manufacturer with the code "AA" (assuming AA is a code).

Yesterday I shot some paint on it. I would prefer it to look a bit aged. I will get to that.
 
No.

The only thing the BATFE regulates is explosives, or Destructive Devices -which are grenades, bombs, etc. containing explosives.

The only problem you or I could face is having all of the parts to make a functioning MK II fragmentation grenade, including the explosives. And/or show intent to obtain the aformentioned.

Possession of steel or the intent to procure more steel is not a violation of federal law. However, some areas have "Hoax bomb" rules. An example of this would be convincing folks that the grenade is live and using it to comitt a crime.
 
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Hmmmm. That's an interesting explanation. One that I've not heard before. The reason that I asked is that I, long ago, had 2 grenade bodies that I liberated. I also had the fuzes. The fuzes were made inert and the explosive removed from the body. I was told, very emphatically, that without the body being made inert, I could get into some serious trouble. So, I drilled a small hole in the base of each. I no longer have them but wonder now if I lessened their value?

I've always understood that simply having the pieces to make an illegal weapon/destructive device/etc is illegal. It's not necessary to show intent to actually make one. IOW, for example, if I had an M1 Carbine and all the parts needed to make an M2 that is all that would be necessary to put me in Leavenworth.

Ray
 
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So.

Is that to say that anything concerning inert ordnance is illegal if it does not have a hole drilled into it?

The definition of a "destructive device" is found in 26 U.S.C. 5845(f). The definition reads as follows:

(1) any explosive, incendiary, or poison gas, (A) bomb, (B) grenade, (C) rocket having a propellant charge of more than 4 ounces, (D) missile having an explosive charge of more than 1/4 ounce, (E) mine or (F) similar device. (2) Any weapon by whatever name known which will, or which may be readily converted to, expel a projectile by the action of an explosive or other propellant, the barrel or barrels of which have a bore of more than one-half inch in diameter (.50 inches or 12.7mm), except a shotgun or shotgun shell which the Secretary finds is generally recognized as particularly suitable for sporting purposes; and (3) Any combination of parts either designed or intended for use in converting any device into a destructive device as defined in subparagraphs (1) and (2) and from which a destructive device may be readily assembled.

Basically, if there are no explosives or "combination of parts including the explosives" and you are not actively seeking explosives or the ability to manufacture explosives -the BATFE does not care.

If they did, everyone in possession of essentially anything explosives could be placed into would be in violation. This includes pipes, pop cans or mail boxes. (Without holes drilled in them, of course.)

If your explination is true, then the BATFE is in serious need of revision, and a new method of enforcement. Over the past five years there is virtually not a antique show, mall or store; gun show flea market or swap meet I have not encountered a piece of ordnance minus it's explosives.

Here is just the SMALL STUFF I have accumulated by visiting the aforementioned places over the past eleven months. I label my scary stuff as being "empty or inert" and my neighbors are informed of what my hobby consists of. I am not worried.

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IOW, for example, if I had an M1 Carbine and all the parts needed to make an M2 that is all that would be necessary to put me in Leavenworth.

Ray

Comparing the laws concerning unregistered machine guns vurses those concerning destructive devices are two different things.

The key word is "explosives", "gas" or "incendiary".

You could have a 44,000 pound Earthquake bomb on your driveway and narry a thing could be said. -Unless that is, it contains explosives or you show intent to acquire or manufacture explosives.

And yes; comming from a decade's long collector and builder of military firearms, it would be in violation to posses a semiautomatic M1 carbine and all of the parts necessary to produce a M2 carbine.

Or more specifically because federal law does not govern stocks, barrels etc; it would be in violation to posses simply a semiautomatic M1 carbine RECEIVER and the aforementioned M2 conversion parts.

Also, it would be illegal to posses an AR-15 receiver and M-16 fire control parts, or a barrel for the AR-15 that is under 16 inches in length. -In the case of a SBR (short barrel rifle)

And for that matter, it would be in violation to posses a block of aluminum, a milling machine; the blueprints for an AR-15 receiver and the aforementioned M-16 fire control parts.

I could go on forever, seeins how BATFE has made it a violation to posses a semiautomatic M-14 or M1A1 and a shoe string tied in a matter that it would link the bolt handle and your trigger finger; resulting in more than one shot produced by a single pull of the trigger.

Simply put. If inert ordnance (holes drilled or not) was illegal in the United States of America, then anything you could place explosives in would also be illegal.

Seriously; define the word "bomb" per federal law and get back with me.
 
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