Original Item: Only One Available. Totally inert and demilitarized according to BATF guidelines with hollow body and inert fuse. This grenade cannot be converted to an explosive devise and is not available for export.

This is an iconic U.S. fragmentation pineapple grenade issued during WWII. The Mk II was standardized in 1920 replacing the Mk I of 1917. It was phased out gradually, the U.S. Navy being the last users, on 2 April 1945 the Mk II and Mk IIA1 were re-designated the Mk 2 and Mk 2A1.

The Mk II was commonly known as a pineapple grenade, because of its shape and structure. Grooves were cast into the cast iron shell, which was believed at the time to aid in fragmentation and had the side benefit of aiding in gripping the grenade: this provision gave it the appearance of a pineapple fruit.

Pre-WWII high explosive-filled Mk 2s were painted bright yellow. During wartime (from about 1943 and after), grenades were over-painted in olive drab, leaving a narrow yellow ring remaining at the top. Not all were over-painted, however, as D-Day film footage shows.

This WWII grenade does not retain any of the original paint, and was recovered and deactivated some time after the WWII Period. The maker markings can still be seen on the side of the grenade, but we cannot make them out. The style however definitely indicates that this is a WWII grenade.  The original fuse was necessarily destroyed during deactivation, however a post-war M201A1 fuse has been added, with a date from the 60s. It is partly painted yellow to simulate the WWII Type paint scheme, and was painted some time ago from what we can tell.

A great "battlefield pickup" item from WWII. Ready to display!