Original Item: Only One Available. This is an outstanding inert WWII U.S. MkII “Pineapple” fragmentation grenade that was professionally sectioned as a visual training aid, allowing the internal relationship of the grenade body, fuze and firing mechanism to be examined. Unlike a standard inert display grenade, this example was deliberately cut open through both the body and fuze, with the opposite side carefully sanded flat so that the grenade can rest securely on its side for instructional display. It retains nearly all of its original exterior finish, including a clearly visible yellow identification band around the neck. We were told that this cutaway originated at Aberdeen Proving Ground, although no documentation accompanies it to confirm that provenance.

Totally inert and demilitarized according to BATF guidelines with hollow body and inert fuze. This grenade cannot be converted to an explosive device and is not available for export.

Sectioned examples such as this were useful for military instruction because they allowed personnel to see relationships between components that were normally concealed inside an assembled piece of ordnance. Rather than relying only on diagrams or verbal explanation, a cutaway could demonstrate how components fitted together and how the firing mechanism functioned. The particularly careful machining of this example, including the clean body opening, sectioned fuze and flattened opposite side, is entirely consistent with its intended use as a visual instructional display.

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 an iconic U.S. fragmentation pineapple grenade issued during WWII. The Mk II was standardized in 1920 replacing the Mk I of 1917. It was phased out gradually, the U.S. Navy being the last users, on 2 April 1945 the Mk II and Mk IIA1 were re-designated the Mk 2 and Mk 2A1.

The Mk II was commonly known as a pineapple grenade, because of its shape and structure. Grooves were cast into the cast iron shell, which was believed at the time to aid in fragmentation and had the side benefit of aiding in gripping the grenade; this provision gave it the appearance of a pineapple fruit. The Mk II was identified with an all yellow body prior to 1943. They were then painted olive drab for camouflage purposes with a narrow yellow band below the fuse.

In the closing years of WWII the Mark II was produced with a solid base and equipped with the M10A3, or M6 series fuze (depending on the explosive filler used).

This example is in lovely condition with almost all of the original paint still present, as well as a visible yellow band still around the neck. The top of the fuze is not marked as being an M10A2 due to a hole being cut into the top so you can see how the release of the spoon strikes the fuze and activates the grenade. The small tab actually lifts up and comes down to strike. We were told that this cutaway came from Aberdeen Proving Grounds, but we have no provenance to back this up. The body was cut open very professionally with the opposite end being sanded down so it would sit on its side without moving.

The MkII remained in American service after WWII as newer grenade designs gradually replaced it. Large wartime stocks meant that examples continued to see limited U.S. military use during the postwar period, including the Korean War era and into the following decades. Its exceptionally long service history, familiar segmented body and association with the American infantryman have made the MkII one of the defining pieces of U.S. ordnance from WWII.

What sets this example apart is not simply its excellent surviving paint, yellow neck band or classic MkII configuration, but the deliberate and highly professional manner in which it was transformed into an instructional cutaway. The opened body and fuze, functional visible mechanism and flattened display surface make it possible to examine the construction of the grenade in a way that an ordinary inert example cannot provide. Combined with the reported Aberdeen Proving Ground origin, which remains unverified, it is a particularly interesting piece for a collection devoted to U.S. WWII inert ordnance, military training aids, technical instruction, Aberdeen Proving Ground material, or the development of American hand grenades.

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).