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Explosives!

Now of course when I say explosives (which I find hard to type without the exclamation mark), I do mean explosives that are either inert, dummy, props, training and all other manner of things that do not explode. So don't get too excited! This section almost didn't exist and there might be a little-cross over with items from other pages, too, but such is this disorganized website. 

and in no particular order.....

Firstly the smoke grenades that I found it so hard to find. However, since I obtained two solid metal examples, I now find other far cheaper versions. Not as good, but less than half the cost!

M16 Smoke

Now, as I said above, I really struggled to find any of these for sale. You can get the 3d printable files on 'thingyverse' website and print your own. Or, now as I just found, you can buy cheap prop M16 US Smokes for £21 at www.relics.org.uk/us-wwii-smoke-grenade 

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When you start looking around, you'll come across lots of companies that once made them, then sold out and never made more.  The correct colour is that really light grey, so Relics got that spot on for the M16.

Almost all U.S. Grenades during WW2 were shipped around in these small cardboard tubes, conveniently for us. These resemble those crisp snack food 'tubes'. If you can be bothered to paint them and print some labels, you'll have a load of these made quite easily. The photo doesn't show it, but the inside is another card piece that the two ends slide over.

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M18 Smoke

Sadly it would seem that very few if any sell the M18 in the ww2 colours. The ones in the photos are fantastic, made by a company called Service of Supply. They no longer seem to sell any. Such a shame, I would have taken one of each! 

I found the company which supplied the parts for these and asked if they could sell me the parts unpainted. Oddly, they said no, they would only sell them to me painted! WTF? Some companies really don't understand how to make money.

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Now, if you really want some of these M18, you can pick up prop versions, just like the M15 from Relics. You'll have to get your paint set out and paint them grey and make some quick stencils. Incidentally, when I tracked my two solid metal ones down, they were the correct colour, but didn't have any markings at all. So Coraldraw came to play again and within a few mins I had stencils all custom made and printed and cut out.

https://www.relics.org.uk/m18-us-smoke-grenades  £27.42 

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Gammon Grenade

The Gammon grenade was a lethal invention, both for the user and the target... possibly more dangerous for the person throwing it! I'm pretty sure from looking at the photo here that it uses the same fuse as the British plastic 69 grenade. However, the bag contained the explosive charge. A soft, flexible, non-protective cloth bag with an explosive charge inside... anyone else see any potential dangers with that!

 

From what I remember reading about these, they were very unpopular. I'm not sure I know if they were actually a good grenade or not; only that they were universally disliked and dangerous to use.What Price Glory (WPG) make fair reproductions of these, priced at about £43.

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I recently discovered that Relics also do a copy of the Gammon. In fact, I ordered one right away (along with a German Schu-mine). The neck on the Relics one looks a lot more 'yellow', I have no idea which is more correct or if they came in a variety of shades from yellow to beige! What I did know is that ordering from Relics would be a lot quicker and no issues with shipping, customs and import tax! Relics is the tiniest bit cheaper at £25. https://www.relics.org.uk/gammon-grenade-no-82

Hawkins Mine No.75 'Grenade'

You'll see pictures of a lot of troopers during the Normandy campaign with these strapped to boots. Although if someone had handed me what looks like a can of paint thinner and told me it was a mine to blow off a tank track... I sure as hell wouldn't then strap it to my boot! Considering you'll be falling from the sky and the first thing to bang into the earth is... YES! Your feet! 

However, despite the insanity involved in these, they are easy to get hold of and also fairly easy to make really cheap looking versions yourself. Although at close inspection, don't expect them to pass muster. The easiest place to get them, of course, is Soldier of Fortune. Who are like Argos for those new to the re-enacting world. It's a one-stop shop of an overall OK-ish quality. However, their Hawkins Mine is fairly decent but at around £38, it's not an impulse buy. However, you know that it' always there if you need to fall back on it.

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Relics Hawkins mine is very different from the SOF version, from markings to construction. SOF does state, "This metal reproduction of the MKII No75 mine is the correct size and design of the original war time ones", however... they have also made bright orange WW2 US webbing and tried to convince me at a show that it was the colour that webbing would have been when first issued... and when I say orange, I do mean orange! So I am instantly more drawn to the Relics version, despite it being even more money at £47. At least it doesn't look like it' just a can of paint thinner with some other bits added on and some stamping done into the body.

Relics states on their website that, "this is our new superior model. The original Relics copies are no longer available". I wonder what the difference was, or if people preferred them over these new superior versions?

https://www.sofmilitary.co.uk/no75-hawkins-mine-anti-tank-grenade-mkii.html
https://www.relics.org.uk/hawkins-mine-no75-british-worldwar2

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I thought I would have a quick look and see if I could see who the supplier for SOF might be. I know SOF likes to sell WPG stuff from time to time, like the Brass TL-122A flashlights which are always marked 'WPG' on the bottom. Indeed, on the WPG website, they list a Hawkins, priced at £29.98... of course you'll be paying shipping and possible important tax on top of that. Although, when I purchased my U.S. Walkie-Talkie through them, I paid no import tax at all, so it's a gamble! The two Hawkins look identical by the way... except the price tag (about £44)!

https://onlinemilitaria.net/products/647-US-Hawkins-Mines/

M2A3 American Anti-Personnel Mine

I was looking through FM 5-31 that goes into a lot of detail on mines, grenades and explosive traps and in it I saw the M2A3 American Anti-Personnel Mine. I thought the mine looked unusual and wanted one to be able to display an example at events. Next thing I knew I was looking for all sorts of different munitions that are listed in that field manual (the manual is available online by the way. There is a link in the Field Manual section. It's worth a look.).

I then started trying to find a German wooden Schu-Mine to purchase and, as well as stumbling across he M16 Smoke grenade, I came across this M2A3 American Anti-Personnel Mine on Relics website.

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The mine consists of a base which receives on the one hand, a cylindrical body containing a 60mm mortar shell (originally an M49A2) and, on the other hand, a tube serving as a support for the igniter (pressure, traction). When the igniter is pressed, it triggers a charge to the propulsion unit of the shell. The shell is ejected from the mine to a height of approximately 2m, a delay fuse then triggers the explosion of the shell, which projects shrapnel over a radius of ten meters. 

I can't imagine that anyone else makes this in reproduction form, so it's all down to Relics again. It will set you back £62.40, but where the hell else are you going to get one!

https://www.relics.org.uk/m2-a3-american-mine-worldwar2-ap-replica

For further reading on these, have a look at https://www.ouest-collection.com/content/21-us-ww2-les-mines-anti-personnel-M2

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M1 AMERICAN ANTI-TANK MINE

The M1 Anti-Tank Mine was used primarily in the early stages of WWII. They are visibly very different when compared to the German Teller mines, having a large pressure spider at the top of the mine as opposed to a large plated disc. When a large amount of downward pressure came onto the spider, it would use a striker to ‘strike’ the detonator at the center of the mine which would then set off the explosion. The threshold for the mine was set to around 226 kilograms; high enough to let people get away with accidently stepping on it, but low enough to ensure it could be triggered by tanks and other armored vehicles. They would typically have been hidden amongst the dirt or a small layer of foliage to keep them concealed and hidden from enemy tank crews.

Now quite a few companies seem to make these! Including Relics, SOF and Epic Militaria. Well, Relics are priced at just short of £100 and to be honest, don't look great from the photo. Even the SOF version  (this almost hurts me to say) looks better. However, I discovered on the Epic website, not only this Anti-Tank mine, but also a couple of other items that I wanted to buy and the prices!!! WOOOOO - what's going on, cheeeeeeeeeeeap! 5-button woolen sweater from the late 40s-50s £15! Must remember to add that to the clothing section on here... although if I forget, it's here. A German stick grenade, but not just that solid bit of wood I see for sale everywhere, the top unscrews revealing the brass det, the bottom cap unscrews revealing the 'polo' (albeit a really ugly one) and for £15 too! Bargains!

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Relics M1A1 Anti Tank Mine £100
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SOF's M1A1 Anti Tank Mine £32
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EPICS's M1A1 Anti Tank Mine £32

Now although the Epic version doesn't have the writing on it, that's no big deal. As well as the other bargains I got in the same order, the shipping is cheaper (much cheaper) than what SOF charges! So, another win.

TNT Blocks - 1/2 pound / 1 pound

These small blocks of TNT original came out of a huge crate, split up between thousands of men, and could be used when needed once dropped. The same principle as with so much other kit.

Of course, SOF does a version of each. These used to be just blocks of wood with a paper label around them. At one point everyone had them like that, either purchased or made themselves. It doesn't look great as the ends are not flat or textured like wood. SOF even goes as far to make sure you know that these are, "...quality metal replicas and are not simple blocks of wood." The 1/2-pound blocks are what is usually seen carried and they price these are £10 each. The fonts are not quite perfect, but I guess it does the job. The 1-pound blocks are slightly longer (and heavier) and cost £15 at SOF.

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Sadly, I struggled to find many others for sale online; some places just sell the labels, one company is even still selling the wooden blocks with labels on them.... for exactly the same price as the SOF versions above.... good luck with that says I! Link below to see what I mean.

https://lomax-militaria.com/en/reenactment/us/equipment/5009/deco-us-army-tnt-1/2-pound-net-block

 

However, this is one of those times that buying original isn't that much more than a reproduction. Well it's actually twice as much, but seeing as the reproductions are only £10, to have an original is much more pleasing and will always go up in value, not down, as better and better reproductions come out. I recently purchased two original tins in fantastic condition (emptied of course!) from a Dutch dealer called Ben who always has a mountain of ordnance-related stock. I did try and get the pair of them for £35... but was shot down by Ben laughing at me. Still had to try though! 

GOOD NEWS! It was brought to my attention that a chap on Facebook has been 3d printing these and other wonderful items and selling them. I got his name and sent him a message, had a chat with him today and I have ordered some of these 1/2lb TNT blocks... the best part is that they look good and he sells them at £6 each! Fantastic. You can tell he is a re-enactor as his prices are sensible and not just out to make as much money as he can... cough "SOF". He is on Instagram, @falconhistory. There are loads of photos, but it's a closed profile, so ping him a message. It's well worth it! As you can see from the photos below, he also makes other items, the Cap Blaster (twisty detonator thing) looks really nice and with originals costing crazy money I can see why this is a viable thing to recreate. (The 60mm mortars are £18.)

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A fantastic colour photo of an engineer 'placing' lots of 1/2-pound blocks of TNT... or making like dumping lots of 1/2-pound blocks of TNT under a German Tiger Tank. I have no idea the significance of this photo, but if its already knocked out, why do this unless it's some sort of trial/test. Seems an odd place to put them to me for any purpose. You can also see the shape of what looks like a roll of friction tape inside his trouser pocket.

so what started this thread... 

Anyone who knows me will know that ordnance is really not my area of interest or collecting, so why would I ever be after a reproduction Schu-Mine? Well its fairly simply, I blame this photo below...

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A great training aid for soldiers going to war, the knowledge from physical aids are so much more successful than seeing drawings or schematics. I have decided to lay out something similar to display to the public as well as have something to talk about to folks in the unit. Possible training lessons... once I know what the hell these things are and how they work that is!

German Teller (Anti-Tank) Mines

Strangely enough I have found and dug up originals, both training and live, of several types of German mines! I have in my collection four different German mines, including three German Teller Mines. There are two training types, one that resembles the shape of a Teller, but it's nothing more than a glorified bin lid, with a screw thread for dummy zinc fuses. The second training mine is a huge lump of case concrete with a dummy British-made zinc fuse set in the top. Damn heavy! The third Teller Mine is an original version that still retains lots of the original paint and markings - 'T42' that is perfect for its new life as a display/training aid.

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So where do you buy Teller Mines? The one with the markings above was about £75 from a guy who can't be trusted to mail things. You can't buy the training bin-lid type, they just aren't available. The concrete ones pop up from time to time. If you really want one, contact me and I might be able to help. However, shipping this large block of concrete is totally on you!

Reproductions are plentiful. However, they are usually not cheap. The SOF M35 version isn't too bad, although it does have some things that are incorrect. But it does come with both the top fuse and side fuse, so that's great! Only £59 for the set.

 

Relics do several versions of the Teller Mines. The M35 is a better-looking version that SOF's but with that comes with a hefty price tag of £100 and it's actually made of wood, not metal and doesn't have the side fuse....  https://www.relics.org.uk/tellamine-35-worldwar2
 

Relics also makes the M35S version with the ridges in the top that helped keep them hidden in sand.  It's around the same price and manufactured the same way as the M35. Same for the M42. 

It is interesting to note that Epic Militaria is the SOF supplier for the M35. Epic had these made and clearly SOF must bulk buy them and apparently is only allowed to sell them at the same Epic Militaria price. The end result is that if you're going to buy one, buy it from Epic, as the shipping will be cheaper and there are other great items that only Epic seems to sell. Make sure to check out there really good German Stick Grenade...

https://www.epicmilitaria.com/german-army-anti-tank-m35-tellermine.html

German Spring (Anti-Personnel) Mines

The German S-Mine (Schrapnellmine, Springmine or Splittermine in German), known by enemy Allied Forces as the "Bouncing Betty" on the Western Front and "frog-mine" on the Eastern Front, is the best-known version of a class of mines known as bounding mines. When triggered, these mines are launched into the air and then detonated at about one metre (3 ft) from the ground. The explosion projects a lethal spray of shrapnel in all directions. Stop and think about what parts of your anatomy are about one metre (3 ft) from the ground. I'll wager your butt just puckered! 

 

The Springmine was designed to be used in open areas against unshielded infantry. Two versions were produced, designated by the year of their first production: the SMi-35 and SMi-44. There are only minor differences between the two models.

There only seems to be one supplier for reproduction Springmines. Both are from Relics, a handy supplier for this type of thing, even if their prices seem rather random! Both these Springmines look rather good from the photos, with both priced just under £60. 

https://www.relics.org.uk/s-mine-no-35-sprengmine-worldwar2-german-anti-personnel-pattern

https://www.relics.org.uk/s-mine-no-44-sprengmine-worldwar2-german-anti-personnel-pattern
 

Originals can be found, but these are rather collectable, so you'll be paying a premium. The two versions each have a different fuse type as well as an assortment of accessories.

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German Schu-Minen (Shoe Mine) 

Named after the resemblance to a shoebox, this rather grisly anti-personnel mine was designed to save metal and not be found by mine detecting tools that are basically just metal detectors. Finding originals of these is certainly not easy and far beyond the prices that reenactors would pay for such a delicate item to drag round the country and display in the open. 

But the good news... this is for sale on Relics website, 

https://www.relics.org.uk/schu-mine-42-relics-replica

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Priced at a very reasonable £36, they come with a fake block of explosive and the fuse. A bargain really. Of course, the wooden box could be made if you can find good measurements and have some woodworking skill, but it'll probably cost more for the wood and components to make the TNT and find a fuse that looks correct. See photos of original examples below:

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German Stick Grenade 

You cannot imagine how many lumps of wood being sold at militaria shows around the UK are called Stick grenades. These vary massively in price from a few pounds up to £20! Remember this is a solid lump of wood that is painted, doesn't unscrew, no metal parts and has no internals. At one time years ago, I had a stick grenade that had a metal base cap that unscrewed to show the pull cord and a head that unscrewed to reveal the brass detonator. Sadly, SOF no longer sells these and I had no idea of their original manufacturer, until now... 

Epic Militaria sells these great items that can be taken apart to show the internals - and you can simulate the use of them! I can already hear your brains ticking and asking how much... well they are only £15! Yes... I know... I have to wonder how they are so cheap when you look at some of the prices of other items above.

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Epic also makes the later M43 stick grenade versions in the grey and sand colour. These also unscrew at the head and only cost a couple of pounds more.

There is no point mentioning anyone else's stick grenades; they are either a solid lump of painted wood or priced ridiculously! Even Relics only sells the lumps of wood and that at £18! They used to do a smoke grenade version, but I've not seen it available lately, or I would have been really tempted.

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