Three Inert French Grenades: Mle. 1847, Bertrand Suffocante, & Mle. 1916 Converted to Dugout Lamp

Pre-war Mle. 1847 Spherical Grenade is a 3-1/8" diameter smooth, spherical cast iron body differentiated only from its 1914 cousin by the fact that the fuze aperture is not threaded.  The 1847 used an even more basic fuze than the 1914, which is represented here with a dummy example for display.  The Bertrand Suffocante Grenade Mle. 1915 is constructed of six identical curved iron segments cast with holes in the center and channels for the wire that combines them into a sphere.  They originally englobed a glass vial containing chloroacetone, which ideally burst when thrown against a hard surface, mixed with the atmosphere, and created enough tear gas to encourage the enemy to abandon their bunkers and other hidey-holes during a trench raid.  This example has no finish remaining, oxidized patina throughout, with replaced wire and lacks the glass vial.  Most on the market today (including this one, in my opinion) are assembled from parts recovered at the spots where the Poilu discreetly disposed of them, a transgression preferable to having them break open accidentally in their own grenade bag, which period accounts suggest was not an uncommon annoyance.  Finally, this example of the Mle. 1916 Suffocating grenade is even more interesting than usual.  Top has brass collar which allowed the use of different plug ignitors, none of which are currently installed, but rather a copper tube through which a lamp wick is passed, allowing for this to function as an ersatz dugout oil lamp.

$300 - $400