ServiceRumDiluted Posted 2 June , 2016 Share Posted 2 June , 2016 Todays find at the local flea market was this Mills 36 casting Which set me back a princely 10.00. The maker is JP&S Ltd, no problem there, Josiah Parkes I think, Willenhall Staffs. It is dated, or I presume it is a date, 1.17 which I thought might be a bit early for a 36. It is odd in that it is a casting only with no holes for a striker, filler or base plug. But it does have holes for a pin, leading me to think it is a throwing practice grenade. But it has the ghost of a red band around the middle, but I think this might be a later addition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ServiceRumDiluted Posted 2 June , 2016 Author Share Posted 2 June , 2016 A side image Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ServiceRumDiluted Posted 2 June , 2016 Author Share Posted 2 June , 2016 The date highlighted with flour The 7 of 17 is much clearer than I managed to get it here. No doubt it says 17. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ServiceRumDiluted Posted 2 June , 2016 Author Share Posted 2 June , 2016 Here it is next to an unfinished factory casting. The factory casting is without doubt ww2 as it came from someone who lived by a railway line taking castings to be machined and filled, they were stacked up at the side of the sidings for transferring onto a different train. When the war ended the stacked up crates were dumped down the banking into what became his garden. He said he was fed up with finding them as a child! Anyway I include it because it is very different to the one I got today, it is rough finished and has the Base plug hole ready for machining. Did I get an early practice 36 or an unfinished casting? Is 1.17 a red herring and is not a date but a batch number? Any suggestions much appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
14276265 Posted 2 June , 2016 Share Posted 2 June , 2016 It looks like a solid aluminium alloy throwing practice grenade. The date is 1917 - the 9 is rather faint. Another one here: #2212346 265 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ServiceRumDiluted Posted 2 June , 2016 Author Share Posted 2 June , 2016 I hadn't spotted that bit of that thread, thanks. Looks like a rare item, close inspection shows the Staffordshire knot on mine as well. Dead chuffed to find it, thanks for your help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMB1943 Posted 2 June , 2016 Share Posted 2 June , 2016 I'm interested to know what the weights of those two are. Regards, JMB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunner Bailey Posted 3 June , 2016 Share Posted 3 June , 2016 They were throwing practice dummies prepared for the introduction of the 36 in the autumn of 1917. Yes they are rare. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunner Bailey Posted 3 June , 2016 Share Posted 3 June , 2016 I'm interested to know what the weights of those two are. Regards, JMB Mine weighs 14.1 oz 399 grams Clearly more for perfecting the throwing action as this is about half the weight of the real thing. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMB1943 Posted 3 June , 2016 Share Posted 3 June , 2016 Thanks for weight info; my grandfather was trained as a bomber, so I'm always interested in these. Regards, JMB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ServiceRumDiluted Posted 3 June , 2016 Author Share Posted 3 June , 2016 Mine clocks in at 400gm also. The casting at 420gm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunner Bailey Posted 3 June , 2016 Share Posted 3 June , 2016 Is 1.17 a red herring and is not a date but a batch number? Any suggestions much appreciated. It's not 1 17 it's 1917. Yours obviously had a light touch in the mould for the date. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 5 June , 2016 Share Posted 5 June , 2016 Thanks for weight info; my grandfather was trained as a bomber, so I'm always interested in these. Regards, JMB JMB, Here is a link to a current ' WW1 Mills Grenade/Bomb Thread ' which contains a lot of information and photographs on Bomber's training and also a Bomber's Training Manual. http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=188323&page=1 Regards, LF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMB1943 Posted 5 June , 2016 Share Posted 5 June , 2016 Lancs, Thanks for posting that link. I had rushed through it the first time around to soak up what to me was brand new knowledge and take some downloads. Now I can re-read it just for pleasure. Regards, JMB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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