A hand grenade is a small hand-held anti-personnel weapon designed to be thrown and then explode after a short time. The word "grenade" is derived from the French grenade, meaning pomegranate, so named because its shrapnel pellets reminded soldiers of the seeds of this fruit. Grenadiers were originally soldiers who specialized in throwing grenades.

American Grenades

A hand grenade is a small hand-held anti-personnel weapon designed to be thrown and then explode after…

The internal workings of the English Mills No. 5 hand grenade.

English Grenade

The internal workings of the English Mills No. 5 hand grenade.

This grenade consists of three parts: (1) a lemon-shaped, serrated, cast iron body; (2) a special igniter the body of which is a hollow piece of wood fixed in the collar of the grenade by three wooden pins; (3) the charge.

French Grenade (C.F.)

This grenade consists of three parts: (1) a lemon-shaped, serrated, cast iron body; (2) a special igniter…

Instead of a standard bouchon assembly being used this grenade is equipped with a Percussion Plug Assembly, Mark I, containing the striker, primer and standard two inch length Bickford fuse. The grenade is ignited by means of first, removing the percussion cover of cap, then knocking or striking the head of the striker sharply against a hard object or against the body.

Cross-Section of a Grenade

Instead of a standard bouchon assembly being used this grenade is equipped with a Percussion Plug Assembly,…

This grenade is nothing more than the No. 5 fitted with a rod 5¼ inches long screwed into a steel base plug which in turn screws into the bottom of the grenade. To keep the lever of the bomb in place after the pin has been pulled, a ring attachment is fixed to the rifle by means of the bayonet.

Model 23, Mark I (Rifle)

This grenade is nothing more than the No. 5 fitted with a rod 5¼ inches long screwed into a steel…