How long will a hand grenade last before it is no longer usable?

Question

Help! I'm writing a post-apocalyptic story and am wondering whether or not the characters can stumble across some grenades and have them still work... 100 years after most of mankind has been wiped out. I'm assuming they'd have to be in a relatively dry, possibly airtight environment? Thanks.

Answer 1

If the pin's don't get wet so they don't rust and they are kept in a dry,cool place they should be fine.

Answer 2

If stored in controlled environment there would be no problems with 100 years except the delay fuse might not be very reliable maybe off by 2 or 3 seconds....

Answer 3

It depends. Plastic explosives are certainly stable. In a n airtight environment, they might still work. Hand grenades from WW1 are still dangerous - the detonator can still explode.

Answer 4

It's only good for a few seconds after you pull the pin and throw it.

Answer 5

They will last longer than you think.  The delay element might not be stable after so many years so I would be careful.

Answer 6

It would have to corrode away (which takes a very long time). there still finding WWII grenades and handling them with care so they wont blow up in there face.

Answer 7

If they were still in their original packaging and not subject to extreme temperatures they'd last almost indefinitely. Otherwise, many years, even decades. After all, they're made to be carried by soldiers in harsh environments. They are well engineered and durable.  

Answer 8

hmmm....assuming that no the pins have not been pulled, and the conditions have been ideal for the time they have been stored. Then they should work. The only problem would be the actual spoon. (The part that flies off when thrown) It is an electrical static charge that initiates the explosion.