Some neat items from an estate...PIC HEAVY

[jjjxlr8]

These are some neat items that came from an estate sale recently...

Information

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[browningautorifle]

Lots of neat stuff there. I'd be tiptoeing through it all very carefully at first though. Some of that stuff speaks of live ord.

[Paul S.]

Definitely. I would not bet that all of that 'really neat stuff' is inert.

My dad told me that he brought back a hand grenade from the islands before he de-mobbed and that he hid it in the rafters of an army hut just before their final kit inspection.

[jjjxlr8]

Yeah, I think the fuse is still live in one of the grenades, but the explosive material has been removed.

The mortar round appears to have had the main explosive scraped out and the tip of the fuse mechanism is missing. The launching charge also appears to have been disabled.

[browningautorifle]

Yeah, I think the fuse is still live in one of the grenades,

That can still either blind you or blow your fingers off. Or both...then you'll be picking your nose with your elbow in the dark...

[jjjxlr8]

Yes, it's something that needs to be handled with care and should probably be disabled. I've never had one like this so it will be stored safely until I figure out exactly what to do with it...

[browningautorifle]

What you could do is take it out and tape it to a stake and use a line to pull the pin. I'd just pull it and toss it around a tree or building corner so it blows on the other side, there can be shrapnel from the blasting cap. That is providing the striker is still cocked. Also the bobby trap switches you have contain live primers. Those are like a small rifle primer or small pistol mag primer, maybe shotgun primer depending on what exactly they are. Those can launch an anvil like a small projectile.

[jjjxlr8]

What you could do is take it out and tape it to a stake and use a line to pull the pin. I'd just pull it and toss it around a tree or building corner so it blows on the other side, there can be shrapnel from the blasting cap. That is providing the striker is still cocked. Also the bobby trap switches you have contain live primers. Those are like a small rifle primer or small pistol mag primer, maybe shotgun primer depending on what exactly they are. Those can launch an anvil like a small projectile.

Thanks, Jim. I reload ammo and have some experience with primers. They are very powerful despite their small size. I think these are the 209 shotgun shell primers.

As far as the live fuse/detonator on the grenade, I don't plan on holding it and throwing like a normal grenade. It's old and I have no idea if the fuse will work properly, providing a delay. I think your idea of remotely pulling the pin is the best. I don't want to damage the grenade, though, and the fuse assembly will not unscrew easily by hand. Do you know if the detonator/blasting cap will damage the grenade body? I have no experience with these.

---------- Post added at 08:54 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:51 AM ----------

I agree with Jim completely. I've seen a lot of de-milled ordinance and usually they leave it so that you can tell it's safe from a quick visual inspection. All of the inert grenades I've ever seen had the bottom cut off leaving a circular hole. If you unscrew the top they'll have a burnt fuse.

Please be careful and let us know.

The grenade with the live fuse/detonator does have the bottom removed (first picture above). The other one with the screw in the bottom doesn't have a live detonator, fuse, or primer. They appear to have been properly disabled on that one.

Thanks, guys!

[Harlan (Deceased)]

I agree with Jim completely. I've seen a lot of de-milled ordinance and usually they leave it so that you can tell it's safe from a quick visual inspection. All of the inert grenades I've ever seen had the bottom cut off leaving a circular hole. If you unscrew the top they'll have a burnt fuse.

Please be careful and let us know.

[browningautorifle]

If the bottom of the grenade is vented, you can toss the grenade like normal, around the corner of the barn and you'll be fine. There may be shrapnel out of the bottom. The det equals about a number 6 non electric det. It won't damage the grenade body it's self.