BACKGROUND: Originally developed in 1915 and designated the No. 5, Mark I Mills grenade, this was later modified in 1916 for use with a rifle grenade launcher, and again in 1917 for an improved launcher design when it was designated the No.36M MK I. This latter pattern was used throughout the second world war, not being replaced until the late 1960s.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: This is an egg shaped roughly 10cm tall and with a circumference of 19cm at its widest point, is of serrated cast iron with a detachable lever, fixed in place by a horizontal pin. One quarter of the body has been cutaway, though to the central striker hole, to give a view of the inner workings so it can be used as a training tool. The grenade is painted brown and comes with the striker lever, striker and spring, detonator (inert), the cutaway center piece and both the filling and base plugs. Both the body and the striker lever are marked with "F W" which indicate manufacture by Frost & Woods, a Canadian manufacturer. The grenade is in very good condition retaining almost all its paint and would be a nice addition to a grenade display. A second inert detonator is included that has been flattened.