WW1 Grenade found at garage sale

[LizardKing]

Don't make me think about it for a second time and make me spend 150€... So 150 euros for 2 Mills are ok you say????

[Glenn66]

Sounds like a bargain to me!

[stug]

hi ,cheap as chips for 2 mills , jump on them ...lol...cheers

[AIF]

Don't make me think about it for a second time and make me spend 150€... So 150 euros for 2 Mills are ok you say????

Sounds good to me!! Not sure what the going rate is over there BUT If I had 2 offered to me for that price I wouldn't even think twice I'd buy them in an instant... You can't even buy one for that price in Australia

[m3bobby]

I notice the article stops short of stating if it was live or not. And it goes on to say its safe in that state. I have an identical 1915 dated No.5 and I wouldn't have said it was safe in that state (If it were still live). Due to the spring having been under compression for nearly 100 years, it has bent the little pin that supports the fly off lever (Not the safety pin) effectively pulling the firing pin down. If that pin folds and gives way then the firing pin will drop, even with the safety still fitted. The one in the photo isn't suffering from this bent pin so I doubt the spring is still fittted.

If I was to find it in a field/dug up, I'd not mess with it, were taught that if in doubt, and its in a safe place, counter mine it in place. Many potato processing plants have dedicated UXO/UXB pits for items found in imports from france and Belgium. Its amazing how a mills grenade looks like a potato to a machine!!

[lithgow]

Even if the fuse isn't fitted, if the bursting charge was still there it would be 'live'-as stated prev the explosive becomes more unstable over time and a hard knock of some sort might set it off-the current Oz standard for deactivating a grenade involves drilling a large hole in the side to show a lack of filling.