WW1 British No 1 Or No 3 Grenade

~ WW1 British No 1 Or No 3 Grenade ~

The Grenade, Hand, No. 1 was the first British hand grenade used in World War I. It was designed in the Royal Laboratory, based on reports and samples of Japanese hand grenades during the Russo-Japanese War provided by General Sir Aylmer Haldane, who was a British observer of that war.

The grenade proper is a container of explosive material with an iron fragmentation band. The fuse was of the impact sort, detonating when the top of the grenade hit the ground. A long cane handle (approximately 16 inches or 40 cm) allowed the user to throw the grenade further than the blast of the explosion.

To ensure that the grenade hit the ground nose first, a cloth streamer was attached to the end of the handle. When thrown, this unfurled and acted as a tail to stabilize flight. The grenade came with a metal loop so it could hang from a belt.

~ Condition ~

Please refer to the images for the condition. The wooden handle is a probable replacement conforming to the No 3 pattern.

~ Dimensions ~

The piece is 32 cm (12.25 inches) in total length.

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