I know what it is......where did it come from?

[haybudden2]

Several years ago while visiting in Maryland I was MD in a
garden and dug this Hand Gernade. The house was built
in the late 40's by the present owner.
They don't have any idea where this thing came from.
The primer end hole is threaded, the brass filling plug
is stuck, and the bottom hole and hanger knob are seized,
and the detonator and trigger are gone.
Other than that it's in good working order.
Anyone have any thoughts about origin?

Hay

 

[Newt]

looks like a pineapple grenade lighter to me.
Newt

 

[chrisanddiane]

"Other than that it's in good working order."

This a good thing?

 

[haybudden2]

Newt, Defiantly not a lighter.
Its cast iron, 3-3 1/2 pounds.
I would guess it was in the ground since
early 50's. It was found with misc. military
buttons and insignias and some pet ID tags
all from the 50.

Hay

 

[sniffer]

it's a WW II frag grenade. it was popular to defuse them and bring them back to the states as gag gifts

 

[Blacksheep]

I don't think it's a pineapple grenade, it looks closer to a ww1 ball grenade (French/German). The "nipple" whatsit on the bottom is interesting. Doing a bit of digging on this one.

 

[TiredIron]

"Kugel grenade Model 1913 " Kugelhandgranate "

The Germans began the war with the Kugel grenade, a heavy device with sphere segments on the outside made with cast iron and a brass fuse. A pull on the wire loop ignited the fuse with a 7-second delay and the main black powder charge was detonated. It was low technology, but was useful if the thrower was protected from the resulting shrapnel shower. It weighed 2.2 pounds with 1.5 ounces of black powder-based mixture and could be thrown about 50 feet.
http://www.militarytrader.com/upload/images/MI_Images/Grenades/1Egg and Kugel Grenade.jpg

http://www.jcdevine.com/images/auction_2904/06-252-0623_sm.jpg

TiredIron

 

[Blacksheep]

It is my opinion that what you have is.......
"Kugel grenade Model 1913 " Kugelhandgranate "

http://www.passioncompassion1418.com/decouvertes/english_grenades_all.html#Kugelhand1913

TiredIron

A variation perhaps as it's very close in design (the one pictured is bolstered , the kugels are not). The piece (nipple) on the bottom
may have been to attach the grenade for rifle or other use? Never seen this particular grenade and it is cool!

EDIT: Hanger as noted in the first post? (DOH)

 

[haybudden2]

This thing may be a variation of the 1913 German
grenade. It had a flip off trigger rather that a pull
detonator. The hinge pivots at in the casting near
the top.

Thanks for all the input.

Hay

 

[TiredIron]

OK.......you guys are putting me on the spot. The gray matter doesn't work as fast as it used to. I retract my Kugel 1913 guess. Further observation and thinking makes me lean more toward a .........'wait for it'.....waaaaait for it....

"The 1918 Shinkle".\ A U.S. made product.
http://www.lexpev.nl/grenades/americas/unitedstates/shinkle.html

http://www.paul-spence1964.com/shinkle.html

TiredIron

 

[Blacksheep]

OK.......you guys are putting me on the spot. The gray matter doesn't work as fast as it used to. I retract my Kugel 1913 guess. Further observation and thinking makes me lean more toward a .........'wait for it'.....waaaaait for it....
"The 1918 Shinkle".\
http://www.lexpev.nl/grenades/americas/unitedstates/shinkle.html

TiredIron

DOOD! Nicely done! I missed looking at the experimental stuff.

 

[Gonehunting]

"Other than that it's in good working order."

This a good thing?

way cool find nonetheless.

 

[mainer]

You can still buy them at army navy surplus stiores. I bought one a few years ago. Just a thought. Weird find.

 

[haybudden2]

TiredIron, Thats exactly it. I would not have guess it was US
made.
Apparently very few people have seen one of these
as I showed it to several military collectors and none could
identify it. I've haunted more than my share of military
surplus stores and never come across a SHINKLE 1918....
Who knew...?

Hay

 

[Aussie Okie]

That is one cool find

 

[TiredIron]

Haybud,
I sent a note out to several Collectors of WWI & WWII Ordnance and here is the reply I got back from one:

TiredIron,

You will be happy to know the "Shinkle" is probably the rarest of the 1st ww US grenades.
It was only experimental and no more than 800 were ever made for testing.
As im aware there are no more than a dozen in existence so yours is a very important find.
Getting original spares to complete it will be near impossible i think. As for value a near complete one sold on ebay about 3 or 4 years ago for around $2500.
If you wanted to sell it i could put you in touch with collectors i know in the US who would gladly buy it from you.
Well done for finding such a rare piece of US history.
Paul.

Congratulations on its rarity.

"Banner item"...?

 

[GopherDaGold]

In light of this new testimony, it is the opinion of this member to declare:

BANNER!

 

[Newt]

$$$. Way to go!
Newt

 

[wwace]

Grenades scare me but the !!BANNER!! does not. Any find worth 2k+ is banner worthy. Awesome history piece to find. Just think of all the history that would rust away unknown if we did not metal detect. And the places that do not allow detecting are losing their history because it will never see the light of day.

 

[haybudden2]

Thanks for the help and interest
in IDing this thing.

Hay