Description
You are bidding on an VERY NICE example of a 100% INERT WW2 Imperial Japanese Army Issue Type 89 Knee Mortar Round!
The Type 89 grenade discharger (八九式重擲弾筒, Hachikyū-shiki jū-tekidantō), inaccurately and colloquially known as a knee mortar by Allied forces, is a Japanese grenade launcher or light mortar that was widely used in the Pacific Theater of World War II. It got the nickname the “knee mortar” because of an erroneous Allied belief that these launchers could be fired by propping its plate against the leg. However, anyone trying to fire it this way would receive a severe bruise (or sometimes a broken femur) from its hefty recoil. The curved plate was actually designed to be placed on the ground or against a log or trunk at a fixed firing angle of 45 degrees. However, since it used a spring-loaded, lanyard-operated firing pin mechanism, in an emergency it could fire grenades or shells at point targets while braced horizontally against a tree or building.
Made of a brass and steel, this item is in AMAZING used condition! It was manufactured between 1939 and 1945, and features MUCH of it’s original paint and finish! Numerous manufacture marks and inspection stamps. Approx. 5.5″ in overall length, there are no breaks, damage, or cracks! Comes complete with the RARE copper charge insert (these are always missing)! 100% INERT with all numbers matching, it would make a PERFECT item for any collection or display!
