Austin man discovers live WWII grenades in estate-sale box, bomb squad intervenes
A Texas resident found active World War II-era grenades in a box bought at an estate sale, leading the Austin Police Department to call in its bomb squad.
During an estate-sale purchase in Austin, a man opened a box that contained multiple World II-era Mk 2 fragmentation grenades, known as “pineapples.” The Austin Police Department responded, establishing a perimeter while the bomb squad examined the devices with X-ray equipment and verified they were active. Six grenades, including a practice M21 round, were safely extracted and rendered inert.
No crime was alleged in the discovery, and the buyer faced no charges, though Texas law classifies unlawful grenade possession as a third-degree felony. Police used the incident to warn the public not to handle old ordnance and to call 911 for assistance. The investigation is now closed.
Why it matters
It highlights the dangers of unmarked military ordnance in civilian hands and reinforces legal penalties for illegal weapon possession.
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