WW2 grenade? body only, real?

[easterneagle87]

Thoughts on this greande body?

 

Bottom is threaded.

 

Good or cast fake?

 

Opinions please.

[dhcoleterracina]

I think it's a practice type with a hole in the bottom.

[vonmoen]

A lot of fakes show up with RFX markings. If a Vietnam era M228 fuze screws into it, it's probably a fake.

[War Paint]

RFX = Richmond Foundry, a Post World War II manufacturer.

[vonmoen]

Richmond Foundry only made the MK21 training grenade, never a HE version. Here's a link with more info:

 

http://www.inert-ord.net/usa03a/usa2/mk2sp/index.html

[rldarmstr]

This was taken from another thread on this sight: http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/166454-help-with-grenades/

 

 

NOTE: info on RFX's: Richmond Foundry Co. did make "real" solid bottom HE (high explosive) grenades during WW2, although for some reason they are rarely seen and are not common. I know they made them as fact because I have an example of a WW2 solid bottom RFX with M10A3 fuze in my collection. Also another collector I know of has 2 "real" solid bottom RFX grenades (bodies only, & they are no doubt real, they do not have welded up or bondo filled holes on bottom). But by far most of the RFX marked pineapple bodies you will see on the market such as at gun shows, eBay, Militaria websites, even well known Military museums gift shops are Fakes-Clones of the US issue RFX M21 training grenade. The RFX made M21 practice grenades started being produced just after WW2, and used thru Korean era thru the Vietnam era. Real RFX made M21 training grenades will of course have a hole on the bottom to insert a black powder charge and then have a cork inserted and sealed with varnish type coating. They would have used an M205A1 or A2 practice fuze. The post war M204 series live fuzes & the M205 series practice fuzes both have 9/16" threads, the same size as WW2 era fuzes.. The tons of RFX marked fake pineapple bodies seen all over the place will usually BUT NOT ALWAYS have larger fuze threads that will only properly fit the modern "M228" practice fuzes as seen on ebay and elsewhere for only a couple of bucks..... (why the offshore and/or US? companies chose to copy the RFX M21's I have no idea!!)