Original Item. Only One Available. The Viven-Bessières rifle grenade was an infantry weapon in use with the French Army from 1916 onwards. Also known as the "VB" grenade, it was named after its inventors, and officially referred to as the "Viven-Bessières shell" in the French Army instruction manual. The grenade launcher system consists of two elements, the discharger (Launcher) and the projectile (grenade).

Unloaded 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 totally inert. NOT AVAILABLE FOR EXPORT.

When it comes to designing a training program for military personnel, instructors are faced with several challenges. First, unlike athletes there is no off-season, most units are either preparing for deployment, deployed, or refitting from deployment. Secondly, training facilities vary from location to location and often focus on a single task. These tasks may include muscular strength, cardiovascular endurance, field craft or marksmanship. Each of the above contribute to the success of an operation, however there is one area of training that is deficient. This deficiency is visual training; visual ability plays a larger role in achieving optimum performance than most military personnel realize. The goal of integrating visual training into an already packed curriculum is not to dilute it but to improve tactical performance.

To help users better understand the equipment they are using, examples like this cutaway were made. These were intended to give the users a look at the internal structure of the explosives, showing the different layers as well as where they connect or thread into each other.

This is a very tremendous cutaway example of the French “VB” rifle grenade. Appearing in 1916, the VB grenade was the most famous and best French rifle grenade developed. It was even copied by the Germans during WWI due to its usefulness. Unlike most rifle grenade systems, it did not have any long rod attached, and actually used the regular ammunition for propulsion. Not needing to reload the rifle used with different ammunition was a literal game changer.

This example had roughly 1/3rd of its length cut away to display the inner workings of the grenade and its fuze. The cutaway even retains the scarcely seen tube which sticks out of the bottom, which is always gone on demilled examples. This was expertly cut to show the interior of the tube and the fragmented inner chamber. 

The VB grenade was shot using a grenade-sleeve fixed on the Lebel rifle, using a traditional ammunition rather than a blank cartridge, thus avoiding frequent accidents caused by ammo confusion in the fight stress. When shot, the bullet went through the central tube, hit the small lever placed on the external part of the detonator, igniting the starter that communicated the fire to the wick then the detonator. The ejection gases, accumulating in the sleeve when the bullet was still inside the central tube, propelled the body of the grenade up up to 180 m.

A small brass cap with a central hole for the bullet was sometimes used to cover the external mechanisms and prevent accidental percussion during transportation. This grenade was so efficient that it changed the tactics of the French infantry. Each company had 16 VB men, giving a powerful and very maneuverable firepower for both attack and defense. It was still in use in the French Army in 1940.

Very hard to find in any condition, and this is the first cutaway example we’ve ever had! Ready to display!