Mills rifle grenade rods.

[PLUM PUDDING]

i have a nice example of a No23 mk1, with a copper plated launching rod with a letter stamp 'H' on the bottom, i have another one again copper plated but with the letter 'G' stamped on it, does anybody have any info on these rods as i assumed they were all just plain steel.

[Gunner Bailey]

They were given a light copper coating to stop transferring corrosion from a rusty rod to a rifle barrel.

 

Very good example of the No 23 Mk I.

 

I've just checked and I have two rods with a J and a K on them. I must confess I'd never noticed it before!

Edited 3 June , 2020 by Gunner Bailey

[PLUM PUDDING]

thanks for that, yet another mystery cleared up, i surpose the letter stamp must have been some sort of factory lot marking. most of my stuff i picked up in islington london many years ago, mainly use to go to Quatermasters at the Angel, a long gone Aladdin's cave of goodies. those were the days, a mills for £18! regardless of it being ww1 or ww2.