X5 grenades.

[Gentleman Soldier]

Shortly before Christmas I purchased these two X5 grenades, furnished with the fuzes shown. The bodies are in their standard black livery and both marked H.E.S CY 6 59 P3/1423 with no other markings.
The first one is fitted with a British trials fuze body, marked 18231 A3 and then hand stamped B3. The lever is of the L25 type, painted bronze green and has no markings.
The second is fitted with an American type fuze, possibly M204A2 or M205A2 with a black painted lever again with no markings.
I've read several older threads regarding L2 trials and would really appreciate any information on these two X5's, particularly the fuzes.

 

[millsbomber]

i personally don't think either of those levers or fuses fit that grenade body, being experiential its hard to say what would have been fitted.

 

[Gentleman Soldier]

i personally don't think either of those levers or fuses fit that grenade body, being experiential its hard to say what would have been fitted.

millsbomber, I don't disagree, the lack of available info on the L2 trials makes it difficult to say the least. The American fuze could easily be just a common or garden 70's training fuze that has had the lever painted at some point in time or it could match Design Drawing P3/17704/SK/371 Grenade Hand fitted with US striker mechanism in UK body? I just don't know.
As for the British fuze body with integral threads, I don't have a designation for it. I'm not even sure if it was part of the X40 fuze trials or where it fits in the history of the L2 development. However I have seen one other also fitted to an X5 body, with a bronze green lever.
I remain a realistic optimist, and won't be to disappointed if none of the above proves correct.