Mk2 Plugged Bottom OD Green Grenade Study

[Persian Gulf Command]

Here are some photos of my two green WW2 plugged bottom grenades. The one on the right is a recent purchase. Both of these are manufactured by the same foundry, although I am not sure which one. I feel this combination of the plugged bottom Mk2 body type with overall green paint is a scarce variety used in WW2. There are many examples of green over yellow but these examples were manufactured and painted after the regulations changed to no longer use yellow over the whole body for HE ordnance around the end of 1942.

Also note the differences in the bottom hole and the plugs used. I believe both are threaded 9/16 but one has a tapered hole and the other does not. Finally, the casting molds for one appears to have been well worn and pitting, which affects the characteristic of the grenade's surface. The other has a smoother surface that was most likely produced by a newer mold.

 

Obviously I am geeking out here about these but the nuances of these WW2 grenades is interesting and facilitates another area for the WW2 collector.

 

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[Persian Gulf Command]

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[Persian Gulf Command]

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[917601]

First, The top number/ letters are mold numbers. I have exhausted all Army TM, directives, orders ( as have others) and can not find solid Army reference stating when the plug type bottoms were discontinued , but info only stating when solid cast ones were to begin manufacturing. Internet sources ( most not backed up by Army references-TMs) state some manufacturers never changed their molds to solid bottoms as the new directives never mentioned they had to. In my opinion, using official TMs, directives, etc, here is how I rank scarcity. These ranked for WW2 MK 2 grenades, earlier models a different animal. 1) Late model (1945) solid bottom with the M6 fuze TNT filled grenade, by far the least amount manufactured. 2) Pre 1943 solid yellow, plug type grenade with M10A2 fuze.3) same but over painted with OD and usually the M10A3 fuze. 4) Solid bottom, OD, with M10A3 fuze being most common. Splitting hairs would be modifications ( spoons have the black stripe if reworked), measuring the fuze train- long/short ( Bickford fuze early was 2" long, later ones shortened to 1 5/16"), earlier ones longer, later ones shortened. Fuze body differences- thinner/thicker at bottom, half moon pins ( one of the last fuze mods) or flat pins, etc...that said, amateur collectors may place a higher value on the most produced ones ( number 4), there was one posted here awhile back FS asking $375 for a common, most produced MK2. How are your spoons marked? Over striked?

[Persian Gulf Command]

R,

Great information regarding the different variations and production of WW2 grenades and their color, body type, and fuse characteristics. What also needs to be considered is what has survived today for the collector. Given that there have been fuse replacements, fuse switches, and re-paints what is available for the collectors of U.S. WW2 grenades can be rewarding yet somewhat problematic. Some collectors are perfectionists and only want original as issued (although inert) examples while others can be just as happy with type examples that represent what could have been used in the field Pre-August 1945.

What is available today depends on the supplies that were not used up in combat and training. I also feel that there was some number of grenades that were never charged with explosives or emptied and sold on the surplus market between WW2 and Korea as well as post Korea to Viet Nam.

 

About a year ago I started a thread about these plugged bottom green painted grenades: http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/321753-anyone-have-a-mk2-plugged-bottom-grenade-painted-od-green-only/

 

There was only one response that provided a photo of such a grenade and as best as I can tell the foundry mark is the same as the two I know own. I realize that the sample size of this USMF is only a fraction of the collector community and those that actively respond to posts is a small cohort of members. I proposes that this type of grenade with the plugged bottom and green paint is one of the rarer variations of WW2 grenades available to the collector community. I am also going to speculate that whoever this foundry is they may be one of the only ones that continued to manufacture plugged bottom grenades after yellow was no longer the color of HE ordnance. Once again if any one has a grenade like this could you provide a photo or respond indicating that you have an example.

 

 

[Persian Gulf Command]

Here are photos of the fuses on my examples:

[Persian Gulf Command]

One more Photo:

[917601]

Interesting pics of the spoons. Notice one is an earlier M10A2, a fuze that could be expected to be found on an early war grenade. Also notice fuze is also spelled " fuse" and " fuze". Unfortunate that not much has been historically recorded on the subject of manufacturers, numbers produced by type, variations, modifications, etc. I am suspecting your examples are one of the few manufacturers that never changed their molds to solid bottoms. As grenades were made to be destroyed, (50,000,000 million manufactured during the war), no surprise we can find little about detailed records.