Austro-Hungarian Hand Grenades of the Great War Part Fourteen – The Lakos Hand Grenade Part Two

At the start of last year I showed you three examples of what are known as Lakos hand grenades, and here are three more examples of Captain Róbert Lakos’ inventions.

Using my nomenclature (see previous Lakos post), here we have two seven grooved Lakos grenades on either side of a six grooved version.

One of the seven grooved examples…

…still retains its cap,…

…but it is the base of these two that differs from the previous versions.

There’ll be a test later.  Note the wooden block at the bottom of the diagram,…

…which this Lakos still retains.

From the other end you can clearly see the remains of the internal construction and workings as shown on the diagram.

Another diagram, this one showing the special device used to prime the detonator before throwing.  Zündhebel means ignition lever and überwurfrohr is some kind of throwing pipe – that’s about all the clues you’re getting from me.

I suspect that probably ends our look at Lakos hand grenades,…

…unless I discover any other different variations – maybe one with a conical cap!

Maybe you’d better hope I don’t, depending on your level of interest!  Nor does that end our sometime Austro-Hungarian hand grenade series – the best is actually yet to come, and have you ever seen any of the compressed air driven contraptions that the Austrians came up with to deliver different types of grenade?  Thought not.

Should you have arrived at this post from the Lakos Hand Grenade Part One post, then click here if you wish to continue the hand grenade series: The Schwere hand grenade.

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4 Responses to Austro-Hungarian Hand Grenades of the Great War Part Fourteen – The Lakos Hand Grenade Part Two

  1. Nick kilner says:

    Superb collection! It’s amazing just how many versions of hand grenades were developed. I must confess, until reading your previous posts Austro-Hungarian versions were not something I’d ever come across. These look to be in excellent condition. From a throwing point of view, the cylinder shape really makes sense. The German stick grenade, whilst less lethal in regard to fragmention damage could far outrange the British mills. It’s difficult to gauge the diameter of these from the photographs, but I’m sure they were designed to fit well into the hand, and are probably something of a halfway house between the mills and the Stielhandgrenate. Very interesting to see.

    • Magicfingers says:

      I agree! I think they’re superb too. And a good point about the scale. These Lakos grenades are all between 5 1/2″ & 6 1/2″ long. Diameter of most is 1 1/2″, the smallest, the only eight grooved version, is less, between 1″ & 1 1/4″. Glad you found the post of interest.

      • Sid from Down Under says:

        Me too – and your most enlightening posts made my mind wonder to something else of which we may be ignorant. The humble bayonet as attached to the muzzle end of a rifle.

        Hopefully you have on your list a study of these – both design and usage?

  2. Magicfingers says:

    Well, there’s a thought. I do have a very nice U.S. 1917-pattern Remington bayonet, and a few bayonet relics – maybe enough to make a post. I shall have to add it to the list.

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