Original Item. Only One Available. This is an original U.S. WWI Mk. I defensive fragmentation grenade in heavily excavated relic condition, retaining its original-style fuze assembly and, most importantly, the distinctive operating lever that is so often missing from surviving examples. The body is heavily oxidized from prolonged burial, the lower screw is absent, and the fuze is seized firmly in place. The grenade appears to have been sealed or stabilized after excavation.

Like all deactivated ordnance, this grenade is Not Available for Export.

These are incredibly scarce to find in their original configuration, as the majority of them had their bodies reused during the interwar period and WWII. This grenade is exciting, the first relic example of this grenade we have offered. This ground-dug Mk. I retains its original fuse which is now seized in place, and the original lever which is almost always missing. The fuze has material loss from oxidation on the top cap and pull ring, but both are still firmly in place, though fragile. It looks to have been sealed with some sort of preservative after being dug. The body is heavily oxidized and the bottom screw is gone. This example would look great displayed alongside other AEF equipment relics.

The MK 1 is a time-fused fragmentation grenade and has 32 serrations on it. To start the fuse, the user has to pull the safety pin, then push off the cap on top of the grenade. Right before throwing, the user has to move the switch on the lever away from the grenade in order to start the fuse.

To operate, the grenade was held in the right hand, the thumb crossing over the lever, the high ridge nested in the crevice of the thumb's first joint. The pin is removed and the top cap shaken off the grenade.

With an overhand throw, the lever was intended to be "automatically" twisted, by the thumb, as the grenade rolled off the palm of the hand. At about a 20° angle the lever frees the cocked striker which snaps like a mousetrap, initiating the primer and lighting the 5 second fuse.

The heavy corrosion on this example prevents close inspection of many smaller construction details, but the original body form, retained fuze assembly, top cap components, pull ring, and surviving lever preserve the defining characteristics of the Mk. I.

This is the first relic-condition example of the type we have handled. Its appeal lies not in cosmetic condition but in the survival of an unusually complete early American grenade configuration despite extensive burial corrosion. The seized original-style fuze, retained lever, missing bottom screw, severe oxidation, and post-excavation stabilization all form part of its history as a recovered AEF ordnance relic.

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).