Lot 994

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Description:

EARLY FUSED HAND GRENADE
A very early and primitive hand grenade, a 3" dia. hollow iron ball, one side very slightly flat, bearing a fuse hole and 1 1/2" twisted cotton fuse. The fuse bears a 1/2" brass or copper sheath at bottom, beneath its entry point into the grenade, presumable to allow further time to elapse before detonation. A tiny hole is drilled in one side (likely not original, reason unknown), and a round head screw is present near the fuse hole. We believe a collector placed the screw there to attach a wire (removed by us) that kept the fuse from falling into the grenade. We simply are unable to positively identify this grenade, but feel that it well predates World War I, and very likely predates the Civil War, when grenades with fuses, plungers or fins came into use. Certainly worthy of research! From the personal collection of World War II and Civil War historian Michael Miner. Miner's thirty-year collection was built through an extensive system of contacts he developed with artifact hunters and diggers in Europe and the Far East, and he maintained careful records of the items he amassed.

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June 4, 2010 11:00 AM EDT
Stamford, CT, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 + $1,000