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Alternate Casting Method An interesting variation of Mills bodies can be found, sometimes referred to as a "center cast" version. Note the difference in the longitudinal fragmentation grooves on the two grenades at left. Below them is an excerpt from a period blueprint (No.23) showing the two types. Curious that the style labeled "Alternative Method of Casting Serrations" is by far the most common form. Upon close examination, the center cast style (left) looks to have been cast with the vertical grooves only, the horizontal ones added later by a machining process. Many early British grenade types were manufactured with many machined features. As WWI progressed, manufacturing time had to be reduced to an absolute minimum for maximum yield, so machining was eliminated wherever possible. It's evident that the "alternate" method was simpler and prevailed as the preferred fabrication process. Either a much smaller percentage of center cast grenades were made or they all got used up in the war, as they are not often found today Observed examples are either No.5 or No.23 types. 
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| 05.11.18a |
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