Lot 93: A British First World War No. 5 Mk I Mills Bomb Hand Grenade by Hinks of Birmingham dated 1916

A deactivated British No. 5 Mk I hand grenade, commonly known as a Mills bomb, constructed with a segmented cast iron body designed for fragmentation. The item features a spring-tensioned safety lever and a steel pull ring. The top of the grenade body includes a central filler screw with a single slot. The base is fitted with a threaded brass filler plug featuring impressed characters. A stamped mark on the brass base plug reads NO. 5 M. I, followed by 8/16, HINKS, and BIRMINGHAM. These marks identify the manufacturer as James Hinks and Son Ltd of Birmingham and indicate a production date of August 1916. The grenade has been emptied of its explosive charge and fuse components for safety. The hollowed interior is visible through the aperture at the base when the plug is removed.