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Question about fantasy knockoff surplus grenades
- Thread starter dano1917
- Start date
dano1917
RIP
I have never mis-represented a made fuze or something along those lines for real ut am aware enough to know there is a world full of "nipple heads" that would. 6 of one half a dozen of the other. Siegfried has a fine example of what were debating on SA right now. An m1915 relic stick grenade head advertised with repro handle, snatch it up for 20GBP. Now that is what I call properly represented. There are many honest dealers out there, and there are others that would have properly aged the stick and stuck 200GBP on it. Know who your dealing with and sigfried has to be one of the most honest ones out there. In my case I did not have the gargantuan stones it takes to procure an all original Mills 36. I bought a good body off SA (from a BOCN member) for 25 GBP, then contacted dug-up for an original baseplug and the rest was repro. I am happy with it as an original example, but if I myself went to sell it I would probably ask 35-40GBP for it whilst advertising that it is not entirely original. Until recently I did not have the big bucks to put out for the "better stuff" Since I sold the house I have 3 completely original and rare German WW1 grenades on the way to the tune of a little better than a grand us (1000.00). I will sure breath a sigh of relief when these pieces finally arrive and you know me I will post the living s__t out of them. Opinions on this subject greatly differ, and when it comes down to it if everyone thought the same way it could get boring in a hurry. I agree in as far as marking which part(s) of a piece are repro as I think (I have to believe) that 90% of us are out to rip off no one. I have been ripped off at least once, as I am sure many of us had. I do not mind buying say a grenade with a repro fuze and as long as the body is original and the price is right I will go for it, even if I am just getting it for a filler piece till something better comes along. Take a percussion WW1 german Kgalkopft for example. Now on these 98% of the handles are repro as they just did not survive but this puppy still commands top dollar (one I have coming), and i'll be damn proud to get and display it. As far as filler pieces go, I have even bought grenades that were total resin cast until a better one came along. So my answer is yes there is definately a place for partial repros and fakes. I have a total resin US MK1 that I bought as nothing more than a filler piece until a good one comes along at a FAIR price (Idid say fair and not cheap) It is all context, honesty and personal preferance.. Enough of my meaningless Bull S__t for a whill. Peace I am outta here.....Dano
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pointblank0
BOCN Supporter
I'm not too clever with American grenades, but in the first link, I don't think the fuze assembly is correct for a WW2 example. I think this fuze was post WW2. Not sure though
Thank you very much, that's what I was hoping to hear. I believe that I have found an M50 as it differs from the normal reproductions. I'll post a photo when it arrives.
GTR003121
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't touch that one in the first link. The fuze is an M213 as used on the M67, or an M228 as used on the M69. As someone else mentioned, this is a larger diameter thread fuze with different thread pitch than the MKII used so that and the fact that the body just doesn't look right at all should be enough to turn you away.
The one in the second link is a poor quality dummy MKII body with an M228 practice fuse from the M69, they are everywhere.
The one in the second link is a poor quality dummy MKII body with an M228 practice fuse from the M69, they are everywhere.
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dano1917
RIP
The one in 2nd link is the basic "surplus circuit" fake MKII that sell for less than 10.00 US. Sold along with the fake m69 and lemon at most surplus stores in huge quantities. These were and are novelty items only. This is the very grenade this threads original intention was to point out. Total fake and junk....Dano
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dano1917
RIP
Oops forgot ##%&*^ picture again
Here is the classic surplus circuit rip-off grenade. If you slam a few pints, squint your eyes then she just don't look too bad. Some say it even somewhat resembles a US MKII grenade! Someday probably will be a collectible in its own right, but for right now this is one I paid 6.00us for and feel I was taken!!! Dano
Here is the classic surplus circuit rip-off grenade. If you slam a few pints, squint your eyes then she just don't look too bad. Some say it even somewhat resembles a US MKII grenade! Someday probably will be a collectible in its own right, but for right now this is one I paid 6.00us for and feel I was taken!!! Dano
Thanks for the comments. It goes to show the potential scale of the problem – if such obvious anomalies are going to be presented as genuine, and people are willing to buy them, what hope for keeping the collecting pool clear of ever more subtle and realistically reproduced sub-components?
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GTR003121
Well-Known Member
The best, and only real method of protection is to know your stuff! Know it to the last detail and use your common sense. The wear patterns on an item for example, is something that can give a fake away in seconds. They never get it quite right, and not just on grenades. It's really easy to tell on German helmets since I used to collect those.
I can't speak for every single repro component, but there's a way to tell fake from genuine in almost every case. Sometimes coming down to the smallest of details. There's a wealth of knowledge and experience here on BOCN, if you use it, there's almost no chance of getting your head ripped off.
I can't speak for every single repro component, but there's a way to tell fake from genuine in almost every case. Sometimes coming down to the smallest of details. There's a wealth of knowledge and experience here on BOCN, if you use it, there's almost no chance of getting your head ripped off.
Actually Dano, that looks like what I encountered today.
I found 3 MK II Practice bodies (squared frag and original blue paint) that were most likely picked up as part of a large mil-surplus lot and were re-threaded for the M228 fuze and then painted OD green.
They were being sold as "surplus" grenades mixed in amongst novelty M30 and M69 bodies.
It's the first time I've ever seen them sold like that.
sgtlynn
Well-Known Member
I think the bottom holes were first threaded to give something to grab onto then the hole filled with lead, the bases were then ground flat, that is one of the indicators of an actual M50.