I am sure that the majority of you know about this but perhaps some people not as me till now.
I realized a little investigation about the grenade and I wanted to share it with you,
The majority of the parts are British, this is because the first movie was realized mostly in this country. In those days there was no the technology that exists today, today to realize the props is used lathe Control Numeric, and different technology. In 1976/77 the creators of the movie used pieces of rejected, Part sofsw show us some parts of this lightsaber.
http://www.partsofsw.com/bensab.htmSince you can imagine the most difficult part it is the grenade and emitter.
The used one was WWI British Rifle Grenade No.3 Mk.1:
you can see also that for example Part sofsw use to replace WWI British Rifle Grenade No.3 Mk.1 for No. 20 Mk. 1 Grenade this is very similar but with some great difference it have not the windvane:
the windvane rotates in flight and screws down to release two small pins that fall out and arm the grenade in flight. Part of the safety mechanism.
The No3 MKI had a short life was because of the complexity of it. The factories at the time couldn't produce the complex grenades quick enough. It was eventually brought back as the Number 20 with a much simpler working.
This is the motive for which there is few No3 MKI, investigating moreover I have found a grenade very similar to the MKI No3, this one it is the No3 MKII, is like MKI. Mk1 and 2 differ by the shape of the brass base,It was changed to give better airflow to the wind vane.
This is the MKII No3 grenade:
Is fine ;) and is more accurate than No20 because it have the windvane.
I am realizing a search in the web for a grenade MKI or MKII. I hope to be lucky.
Gaby.