Lot of Three Inert WWI French Grenades: Mle. 1914 Spherical, Besozzi, & Mle. 1915 F1

Lot of Three Inert WWI French Grenades: Mle. 1914 Spherical, Besozzi, & Mle. 1915 F1

Early War Mle. 1914 Spherical Grenade is a 3-1/8" diameter smooth, spherical cast iron body and threaded bronze fuse assembly complete with friction wire ring, even complete with the wooden plug that protects the fuse device.  This grenade was the first to utilize a metal, screw-in fuse for water resistance and was thrown with the aid of sling, a method that proved difficult in narrow trenches during WWI.  The French / Italian Besozzi Grenade is a pre-war Italian grenade that was imported by France at the beginning of the war, then manufactured in France under license after the Italy joined the party in May 1915.  Externally segmented body has threaded plug hole in the base and a hole in the top through which a red phosphorous tipped time match fuze extended.   End of the fuze is still present, which is normally not the case for these.  Has dull black painted finish which if not original is at least old in appearance.  A design that like the war itself was a collision of new, forward thinking design (externally-segmented iron grenade) and the archaic (time match fuze that was lit via a handheld striker box).  Model 1915 F1 Grenade has segmented cast iron body and is complete with Mle. 1916 Billant automatic plug Igniter with safety pin and ring. Body retains horizon blue paint in the segmentation recesses, dark patina on the remainder. Fuze has a dummy (solid) copper ignitor inserted in the fuze for display purposes.

$300 - $400