unknown NO? MK? mills bomb !

[Panzerknacker]

I have this mills bomb money box ! unsure if its a no23 mk1 or what it is ! its more like the no23, theres no slot under the leaver like on the later no36 ! the top has a step in it where the pin goes, the filler is wrong and its base plug, leaver & pin is also missing !
so just wondering no: mk: ? there is one stamp letter: B thats it !
thanks P.N

 

[gothica7]

Hi bud,

its either a No5 body or a No 23. Might have come originally with a lever, might not have, sorry, ime not sure. Its also possible that the base threads may have been ground down a little to accept a tin lid to act as a plug. I gather a lot were made and sold to the general public during WW1 to boost War funds and to use up surplus castings after the war.

Andy

 

[dano1917]

23

Panzerkancker, I saw a very similar Mills at a show here that was labeled that it was a NO23. I don't positively know for sure, but this one was labeled as such. Dano

 

[dodgydave]

I have an identical one of these. The filler plug is just a thin metal disc (which will pop out quite readily) and the base hole had a double skinned disc with a rim pushed into it (looked a bit like the plug from a self heating food can), the base thread was ok. Mine was also missing the lever and pin. I have fitted a No.5 brass base plug, one of 'Dug Ups' repro brass filler plugs a correct lever and detonator pin with split pin and ring. I've kept the original bits that came with it and have retained the coin slot. The body of the grenade has the letter S cast into the lower front and an A on the lower rear.
I dont think there is any difference between a No.5 and No.23 casting?

 

[smle2009]

Just been looking this one up in Skennerton's grenade book,there are minor differences of the castings between the No5 & 23,it also mentions that there was a No5 Mk 2 but Quote "One or two references are made of a Mk 2 version of the No 5 grenade,but no specific details of the same appear" Unquote perhaps you have one of these?
Cheers Tony

 

[Millsman]

It's probably one of the 'money box Mills' sold off post war to dispose of the vast numbers of grenades held. It was most likely to be a No 23 as the No.5 virtually ceased to exist after Jan 1917. All Mills from that date were either No23's or from August 17 23 MkIII / 36's.

John

 

[Panzerknacker]

ebay mills

There`s one of these on e-bay -uk if anyone is interested ?Item number:290346947965

 

[gothica7]

Its going to sell for loadsa wonga though. Picked one up at Beltring for 15 quid, zakly the same.

Andy

 

[Snufkin]

...the No.5 virtually ceased to exist after Jan 1917.

John

Apart of course from the nearly four million No.5 which had been supplied to the French, and at the time of the Armistice were at the Gaillon depot, in the process of being upgraded to No.36 status (7 sec igniter, gas check, and new base plug) and returned to the British.

T