C027356 WWI BRITISH NO 34, MKIII HAND GRENADE.

BACKGROUND: The British No 34 Mk III grenade was one in a long line of hand thrown grenades developed during the First World War and was nicknamed the "Osterei" (Easter egg) by the German soldiers. The No 34 grenade had a percussion type, time delay, fuse. When the pin was removed and the plunger hit against a hard surface, the shear wire was cut and the primer cap fired, which would ignite the fuse that would burn down to the detonator.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: An egg shaped grenade, about 3 15/16" high by 1 3/4" in diameter at its widest point. The main body is made from two pieces of mild steel that are welded together and the weld ground down almost to the surface of the body. To one side of the body is a 5/8" diameter slotted brass plug, which threads into a threaded hole, that was used to fill the grenade with explosives. The body has been stamped with the markings "N 34", "111", "E&S" (possibly Edison & Swan Ltd) and the date "1917". The body exhibits remnants of red paint which could indicate that the grenade was live at one time. Threaded into the top of the grenade is a brass fuse igniter assembly with pull ring, cotter pin and shear wire. The ring and cotter pin appear to be a replacement and are of possibly WW2 design. Still a very nice almost complete example of a First World War grenade.

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