Original Item: Only One Available. This is an amazing piece of early ordnance history! Although ground troops also used this type of grenade, they played a significant role in ship-to-ship operations. This type of grenade was crucial in the largest naval battle of the Revolutionary War. During the battle, the Bon Homme Richard, under the command of Captain John Paul Jones, engaged in combat with the British ship, the Serapis. The Serapis was a larger and faster ship than the Bon Homme Richard. During the battle, the two ships ended up side by side. Jones relied on the eighteen-pound cannons in the gun room.

However, as six of the cannons were discharged, two of them burst, causing an explosion that destroyed the deck above and killed many people below. Jones was forced to abandon his most powerful weapons. When the firing stopped, British Captain Pearson asked Jones if he was surrendering, but Jones replied, “I have not yet begun to fight.” Although the battle guns were disabled, the fighting continued. The crew of the Bon Homme Richard threw grenades onto the upper two decks of the Serapis, while others threw grenades through the ports of the Serapis. One sailor even climbed to the end of a yardarm, and with a bucket of grenades, achieved such precision that they were able to land grenades through the main hatchway. The powder-boys of the Serapis carelessly laid out a row of cartridges on the main deck. One of the grenades hit loose powder, setting off a domino effect that ignited one cartridge after another. The explosion was devastating to the Serapis, and an estimated 60 men were instantly disabled by a single, well-placed grenade. The Serapis was permanently disabled, and the Bon Homme Richard under John Paul Jones emerged victorious.

This example is in wonderful condition but does have heavy pitting from having spent quite some time in the ground before being discovered.

A wonderful example ready for further research and display.

Totally inert, cannot be converted to an explosive device, not available for export. This item is completely legal within the USA. International Military Antiques, Inc observes all Federal, State and Local laws. Everything for sale on ima-usa.com is completely legal to own, trade, transport and sell within the United States of America.

All deactivated ordnance sold by IMA, Inc is engineered to be inoperable according to guidelines provided by the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATF).