Close call!!! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

jplinville · #1 02-20-2012, 03:53 PM

We went to my mom's over the weekend for our monthly check up of her and my monthly punch out list of things she needed done around the house. My wife and I wanted to go check out an estate sale a few blocks away, so we took off for a bit. As we were parking, I got a phone call. I told my wife to go ahead, and I'd try to catch up with her.

Well, while still on the phone, my wife came out of the house with a few small items she found, and told me that there were a few war relics in the house I may want to come and see...I told her that I didn't have time, that we needed to head back for dinner, perhaps we'd go on Sunday.

Good thing we didn't go back...She remembers seeing these grenades and thought they looked like something I would want. I'm glad she didn't go back in and buy them...

Two Japanese grenades found among items at an estate sale

Quote:

KETTERING — The Dayton Bomb Squad responded to the 900 block of Lincoln Park Boulevard in Kettering Sunday evening after two explosive devices were found at an estate sale.
Two Japanese grenades from the World War II era were discovered at the sale, according to bomb squad officials. Concerned, those at the sale notified the Kettering police. Officers shut down the street until the Dayton Bomb Squad arrived.
Officials confiscated the explosives and safely detonated them in an open field near Stroop and Tait roads behind Kettering Medical Center.
“Instead of having a pin like American (grenades) have, they had string,” said Larry Hyatt, who conducted Sunday’s estate sale. “And it was really rotten-looking string.”
Aged explosives can be extremely sensitive. Kettering police on Sunday suspended radio transmission and told those close to the house not to use their cellphones because frequencies can trigger an explosion.
“If you have old ammunition and things, that (the explosives) can be a hazard — especially if you don’t have them secured properly,” said Kettering Police Officer Ron Roberts. “You need to contact your local law enforcement agency and have them disposed of properly. If you’re unsure, we can come out and check them.”
Curious neighbors wandered outside their homes on Sunday. The area is densely residential, and Lincoln Park is a widely traveled road. There is a park nearby.
“My grandpa was a war vet and he had a bunch of stuff around,” said Josh Myers, who lives two blocks from 958 Lincoln Park, where the grenades were discovered. “You just have to hope (those materials) are not in the wrong hands.”
WHIO-TV contributed to this report.

jplinville · #2 02-20-2012, 03:55 PM

It's a bit scary knowing that these were there, and that the wife knows I collect war relics, but for some reason didn't buy them for me. The retaining string, instead of a traditional pin, had degraded quite a bit, according to the story.

Can't Know · #3 02-20-2012, 03:57 PM

Wow!! Talk about dodging disaster! Yikes!

layback40 · #4 02-20-2012, 05:56 PM

There used to be jars of nitroglycerine capsules in old houses ~ angina treatment. Once they got old & unstable, slam the door & head for the moon!!!!

Kuan · #5 02-20-2012, 06:51 PM

Wow! Good one there. OTOH if it were safe I'd sure love to own one, just to say I have one.

Brian Carlton · #6 02-20-2012, 07:22 PM

They were sitting unmolested for over 50 years and now, finally, somebody decides that they're unsafe and it has become a "close call" and the bomb squad is necessary.............

Glad I was not nearby............

spdrun · #7 02-20-2012, 07:30 PM

What a waste. Someone with a tree stump they needed to get rid of in their yard could have used them.

LandYaghtLover · #8 02-20-2012, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

They were sitting unmolested for over 50 years and now, finally, somebody decides that they're unsafe and it has become a "close call" and the bomb squad is necessary.............

Glad I was not nearby............

Thats what I was thinking. And the radio frequency part was funny.

spdrun · #9 02-20-2012, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LandYaghtLover

Thats what I was thinking. And the radio frequency part was funny.

That would only interfere with electric blasting caps, correct? I hope the bomb squad got to "test" the grenade -- see if Japanese engineering is as long lasting as it's purported to be.

Brian Carlton · #10 02-20-2012, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LandYaghtLover

Thats what I was thinking. And the radio frequency part was funny.

..........yeah...........radio frequency interference with a 50 year old grenade............

.............morons...........

Kuan · #11 02-20-2012, 09:28 PM

So. Was it made of bamboo?

jplinville · #12 02-21-2012, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

They were sitting unmolested for over 50 years and now, finally, somebody decides that they're unsafe and it has become a "close call" and the bomb squad is necessary.............

Glad I was not nearby............

Perhaps you missed the part about the grenades not using pins to retain the trigger part, but instead used a cotton type of string that had degraded over the years, which, according to the TV story that aired, was falling apart as it was being moved...

t walgamuth · #13 02-21-2012, 06:23 AM

Interesting story.

If I were the Police I would have taken no chances either.....OTOH it gave them the chance to use some of their favorite toys!

jplinville · #14 02-21-2012, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

Interesting story.

If I were the Police I would have taken no chances either.....OTOH it gave them the chance to use some of their favorite toys!

Not really...Kettering doesn't have a bomb crew, they contract with the city of Dayton for that service.

I'm glad that someone spotted and identified them for what they were. The growing gang problems in the area didn't need to get their hands on that type of ordinance.

t walgamuth · #15 02-21-2012, 07:33 AM

So the Dayton guys got to use their bomb toys!