Is this a Ww1 or a ww2 mills how do you tell the difference

[arantxa]

[peregrinvs]

It’s a Mills No.5 - the first type used in WWI followed by the No.23 and the No.36. Only the No.36 was used in WWII.

 

Amongst other differences, the No.5 and the No.23 have a different body shape to the No.36.

[arantxa]

Thank you your obviously very knowledgeable 

much appreciated 

[arantxa]

What does the red paint indicate 

[Dave66]

Band of red"X's"..grenade is filled and sealed for use in tropical (moist) climates.

heres a comparison of the two main body types, on the left a ww1 No23, on the right a 1945 No36.

 

Dave.

[arantxa]

Thank you I’ve learnt something new 

[Dave66]

2 minutes ago, arantxa said:

Thank you I’ve learnt something new 

Excellent site that explains the main differences http://www.inert-ord.net/brit/mills/index.html

 

Dave.

[Gunner Bailey]

The red band was painted on to indicate the body had been filled with explosives.There would have been a thin green or pink band around the middle of the grenade to indicate what type of explosive was inside.

 

The red Xs were as stated before to indicate the grenade was 'tropicalised' for Mesopotamia. This started with the Mills No 23 and continued with the Mills 36s that were made for that theatre.

 

The last No 5 grenades were issued in January 1917. After that the No 23 Mk I and II was standard until the No 23 Mk III was introduced in August 1917. The No 36 soon followed. The No 23 Mk III was designed to be used with a rod and the No 36 the gas check plate. The No 23 (Marks II and III)  carried on to the end of the war in parallel with the No 36.

[arantxa]

Thank you  ive noticed  a little  letter T on the front of the grenade is this the manufacturers ?

[Gunner Bailey]

44 minutes ago, arantxa said:

Thank you  ive noticed  a little  letter T on the front of the grenade is this the manufacturers ?

 

On the No 5 or the No 23 it will be a body mould mark. These vary between makers and can be letters or numbers.

 

From the No 23 Mk III the letter(s) on the front would indicate the makers name. Mould marks were then transferred to the area under the lever . This continued with the No 36 until 1972.