WW1 French Suffocante at Lacrymogene Mle 1916 Automatique

[Gildwiller1918]

Here is a nice example of the French Suffocante at Lacrymogene Mle 1916 Automatique, which was a chemical grenade used in WW1. It was also approved for use with US forces as well. It consists of two metal halves soldered together at the center and was interior coated with lead to prevent corrosion of the chemical filling. The brass collar for the fuse is also soldered into place, allowing the fuse to be threaded into the grenade body. The chemical filling was Papite or Acrolein, which is a colorless liquid with an acrid smell, and is toxic while being a strong irritant for the skin, eyes, and nasal passages. This grenade could have the Mle 1916 Brillant Fuse or the Friction Igniter (shown below).

Image source, National WW1 Museum, USA.