Mills Bomb No.36 info. needed
 

Folks,
I hope that I have put this request in the right category section, if not please move it to the most appropriate one.
I am trying to attempt to restore a Mills Bomb No.36 grenade back to a good looking inert status piece for show. It is now a small piggy bank that should be able to shine once again.
On the Mills bomb plugs located on the side and bottom, does any one know the proper tap(s) and there sizes to restore the treads. Were they -- Imperial, Metric, BSPP or other type of thread used? Is there a difference in threads on the Canadian V/S the British Mills Bomb or were they all the same?
Thank you,
Doug

Mills Piggy Bank
 

Your Mills Piggy bank may be a unique collectable, are you sure you want to convert it back?

Got a pic of the piggy bank?

Might be able to find someone happy to swap you for a complete inert example.

Tim

Why don't you post a picture Doug . Either Ed or another fine connaisseur could give you an educated opinion on it's present condition.

I have had a few of them converted to piggy banks. I bought a couple of auction arms back in the day, and would have the sender mail them as piggy banks, since listing them as grenades would in no way facilitate their entry into Canada.

I checked the threads on a couple 36Ms and what I found was that the threads are 20 threads per inch. The smaller plug is 9/16 in diameter, and checking available thread charts, that size does not appear to be UNF, BSF, or any of the other options.

One option is to grab a tap that is 20 TPI and drag the tap across the threads to restore them. I have had luck with this method in the past on various damaged threads on stuff like differential drain plug holes.

Maybe go over to the BOCN forum: http://www.bocn.co.uk/vbforum/

Have a read through that first, and if you don't find the answer, post your question. I've had a quick look, but anything deeper will see you lost for hours! :coffee

If you use Facebook, there's a great group called
GRENADES AND ORDNANCE, very helpful and informative.
Tips on restoration and preservation.
Great source of spares from all nationalities and era's

I would like to Thank all who have replied to my request for information on the Mills Piggy bank. The experience and knowledge that is shared on this forum freely, is greatly appreciated. A truly amazing group we have hear. Thank you!

The little cap on the side is to fill the explosive - or in Rob's case, the pennies. The big cap on the bottom opens to show two holes. The centre is for the firing pin and spring (which are released by the handle flying off), and the side hole is for the detonator finger. The base plug holds them detonator in place.