Original French WWII 1940 dated 50mm Mortar Round for Modèle 37 Light Infantry Mortar – Inert Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice totally inert BATF complaint Mortar round for the French Lance Grenades de 50 mm modèle 37 (Grenade launcher 50 mm model 37). This light infantry mortar was issued in 1939 to replace the French rifle grenade (VB launcher) in use at the platoon level, however few saw action in the infantry in 1940.

It was a simple weapon with a fixed elevation of 45°, with the range being set by twisting a ring on the base which varied the diameter of gas vents on the tube. It consisted of a tube, baseplate and bipod. Although light and mobile it was short ranged and fired a small projectile.

After testing in 1937 an initial order for 21,950 mortars was placed in January 1938. This order was later changed to 50,000 mortars at the outbreak of war with all mortars to be completed by January 1941.[3] However, only 2,900 had been produced by June 1940 and few had been put into service due to a shortage of ammunition. Production ceased after the French surrender in 1940 and wasn’t resumed until 1944. As such, WWII dated rounds are quite rare.

This example is in very good condition, and still has much the original exterior paint on the body. There are even some faded paint markings on the yellow portion. While the fuse was removed, it still has rear tail fins, complete with the original deactivated propellant charge.  One of the fins is marked AMP-40-39, possibly for manufacture in the 40th week of 1939, or maybe 1940. The propellant charge headstamp is more clear, and is marked M.G.M / 2-40, for manufacture in February 1940 by Manufacture Générale de Munitions (General Ammunition Factory) in France.

A very nice example of a hard to find mortar round, ready to display!