Original Item: Only One Available. Totally inert and demilitarized according to BATF guidelines with hollow body and inert fuse. This grenade cannot be converted to an explosive device and is not available for export.

This is a nice inert example of the 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, and 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.

Pre-WWII high explosive-filled Mk IIs were painted bright yellow. During wartime (from about 1943 and after), grenades were over-painted in olive drab, leaving a narrow yellow ring remaining at the top. Not all were over-painted, however, as D-Day film footage shows.

This rare early war grenade bears all original OD Green over Yellow paint, original fuse and pin. It has a solid bottom body, which is marked J on one facet, and AF on another. It is offered in very good condition, with the expected wear of age. The paint is about 75% intact, and areas of wear show that this grenade was definitely painted all yellow, and then later painted OD Green, leaving a ring around the top. The correct WWII type "spoon" has markings on the top, though they are hard to read. We can barely make out that it has an M10A2 on it. The fuse still has the correct pin.

Genuine early war overpainted examples are extremely hard to find on the market today. Ready to display!