{"product_id":"original-british-wwii-british-no-69-i-bakelite-high-explosive-inert-hand-grenade-in-rare-brown-bakelite-with-complete-cloth-fuze-pull-excellent","title":"Original British WWII British No 69 I Bakelite High Explosive Inert Hand Grenade in Rare Brown Bakelite with Complete Cloth Fuze Pull - Excellent","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is an excellent original inert example of a very hard to find British ordnance piece from WWII!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUnloaded or dummy grenades, artillery shell casings, and similar devices, which are cut or drilled in an BATF-approved manner so that they cannot be used as ammunition components for destructive devices, are not considered NFA weapons. This example is in total compliance and is NOT AVAILABLE FOR EXPORT.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe British No. 69 I was a hand grenade developed and used during the Second World War. It was adopted into service due to the need for a grenade with a smaller destructive radius than the No 36M \"Mills bomb\". This allowed the thrower to use a grenade even when there was little in the way of defensive cover. In contrast, the much greater destructive radius of the Mills bomb than its throwing range forced users to choose their throwing point carefully, in order to ensure that they would not be wounded by their own grenade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExternals and internals- The shell of the Number 69 grenade was composed entirely of the hard plastic, Bakelite, which shattered without producing fragments like a metal-bodied grenade. Metal fragmenting sleeves were available to increase the grenade's lethality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUsing the No 69 bomb was very simple: the screw-off cap was removed and discarded, and the grenade was then thrown. When the grenade was thrown, a linen tape with a curved lead weight on the end automatically unwrapped in flight, freeing a ball bearing inside the fuse. In this manner the all-ways fuze was armed in flight and the grenade exploded on impact; and like the Gammon grenade, which used the same fuse design, it was withdrawn from service soon after the Second World War ended.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis example is embossed on the side of the body:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNo. 69 I\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCR 1942\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis dates the grenade to 1942, but we are unsure of the maker of this example. This is the most complete example we have seen, with the canvas strap still fully retained inside with the small metal piece at the end.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA great display piece from WWII, in very attractive bakelite. Ready to display!\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44949370273861,"sku":"ONJR26APNS036","price":695.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/D035A3B1-7E66-4A75-8A2D-172A56A62E89.jpg?v=1777656195","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-british-wwii-british-no-69-i-bakelite-high-explosive-inert-hand-grenade-in-rare-brown-bakelite-with-complete-cloth-fuze-pull-excellent","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}