Item Description
Original Item: Only One Available. The Danish M.1923 grenade is one of the more mysterious types encountered by collectors. It seems everyone has a different opinion about what it is exactly. We've seen it described as Swedish, Japanese and almost everything in between. To put truth to the speculation - this model grenade was developed by the Danish and produced in Denmark, designated the Haandbombe Model 1923.
Unloaded or dummy grenades, artillery shell casings, and similar devices, which are cut or drilled in an BATF-approved manner so that they cannot be used as ammunition components for destructive devices, are not considered NFA weapons. This example is in total compliance and is NOT AVAILABLE FOR EXPORT.
After the German occupation in April of 1940, ordnance plants continued production using the German nomenclature: Handgranate 342d (Offensive) and Handgranate 343d (Defensive).
Two color schemes are found: Yellow; and Gray with a Black Band. Yellow versions are less common than the Gray/Black style. Dated Yellow examples observed are from 1940 to 1945.
Markings vary considerably from: "23"; "K" inside a 12 pointed star; "AK/B 194x" (194x being the date); and "AMA" (AmMunitions Arsenalet).
Construction & Function
The body is sheet steel with a brass percussion delay fuse assembly and a safety wire. The top plunger is the striker mechanism, the bottom cap provides access to the detonator (or practice charge), and there is a fuse interrupter safety in the side which departs from the grenade after it is thrown, arming the grenade.
The defensive model is created by the addition of a fragmentation sleeve, consisting
of two identical cast iron half shells attached to the offensive grenade and secured with wire wrapped around the top and bottom.
Identification
The practice grenade is made using thick-wall steel, to simulate live weight and make it more robust for repeated use.
The most obvious way to identify the practice from the service type (other than the color scheme) is the presence of two 2.5mm holes drilled in the body - one found just below the safety interrupter, the other is located on the top cone on the opposite side.
The base end cap has a 6mm exhaust hole for the practice charge, which was inserted in the space that would have held the detonator in a service grenade.
After use, the grenade had to be returned to the factory for a new fuse. A string of indented dots, may be found below the safety interrupter each indicating a re-load cycle by the factory. The example offered still has much of the original paint, and a great patina.
Ready to add to your collection and display!
- This product is not available for international shipping.
- This item is completely legal within the USA. International Military Antiques, Inc observes all Federal, State and Local laws. Everything for sale on ima-usa.com is completely legal to own, trade, transport and sell within the United States of America. Every display machinegun and machine gun parts set and gun sold by IMA, Inc is engineered to be inoperable according to guidelines provided by the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATF).
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