Original Item. Only One Available. This is an extremely scarce WWII Mk. III A1 Grenade, which saw heavy use during World War II. There are  three variants of the Mk III: the basic MK3, the MK3A1, and the MK3A2. They differ in their construction and the type of fuze used. They were designated Mk III (Roman numbers) prior to 2 April 1945, making this example a WWII manufacture. Like all deactivated ordnance, this grenade is Not Available for Export.

The MK3A1 had a water-resistant laminated-paper body and top and bottom caps made from die-cast metal. The top had a threaded fuze well in the center. It originally used the M6A1 fuze, which had a four to five second delay. It was upgraded to the M6A2, and then the M6A3 fuze sometime in the early 1940s and the M6A4D fuze in 1944. The grenade contained 7 ounces (200 grams) of flaked TNT filler.

There is a paper label wrapped around the grenade reading:

GRENADE HAND
OFFENSIVE MK III A1
K.O.P. LOT 22-22415-43

The paper label has been taped to the body to keep it from falling off, but it has obstructed some of the markings. The body of the grenade measures 4” tall with a 2⅛” diameter. The fuse screws off well but is a bit oxidized, and the pull ring is heavily oxidized. The fuze is marked:

FUZE M10A2
F.L.I. LOT
36-23144-65

A great example of a very scarce WWII grenade, ready for further research and display.

It can be identified by its black body and a yellow band pasted across the middle marked "Grenade, Hand - Offensive MK.III A1" in black lettering.

The grenades weighed 0.69 lbs. (~313 grams) each. The MK3, like all TNT-filled grenades and bombs, were shipped without their fuzes as a safety measure. They were packed in cardboard storage tubes in crates of 24 or 50. Fuzes were shipped separately in boxes containing 25 fuzes.