Help with a T-13 "Beano" grenade

[Sirius9024]

I was hoping that some of the members could help me with an unusual item. I was offered an item on a trade and I have no idea what the value or the rarity is. Can anyone help me out here?
It is a small green ball shaped grenade, with a pin that goes over a bakelite or plastic circle type fuse device. He called it a T-13 Beano HE grenade. I found one website that describes the grenade to a "T". I twas taken out of a house in Mass, the former owner was scientist during WWII and worked with and helped in developing weapons during this time. So this could explain how he obtained it.
I trying to get a rough estimate of value and any other sites that I might be able to do some research on the item. I should have photos early to mid next week.
Thanks in advance,
Brian

[Mike P.]

Hi Brian ...I had one of them a few years back , shoulda kept it. I think it was developed either right at the end of WW2 or right after (never found anything to confirm any dates) they did go into limited production ,it was a flop though . Someone told me the "idea" was ....since Americans were great at Baseball , they probably do better tossing that shape than any other. The site mentioned the OSS connection but also mentioned it's use in Normandy.
"The Beano had problems during development. Its performance was not consistent or particularly reliable. The fuze tended to freeze up in winter conditions as well as having a nasty habit of prematurely detonating. There were numerous casualties during development and test. (Impact fuzes historically have been a difficult feature to safely incorporate into a hand grenade.)

The problems were more or less worked out and the grenade was adopted for use as the T13 in January 1944. The term "Beano" was used prior to the formal type designation. While the T13 was shipped to Europe for field evaluation, it isn't clear if it was ever used in combat, although there is unverified information it was issued in limited numbers to troops for the Normandy Invasion."
http://www.inert-ord.net/usa03a/usa3/t13/index.html

[Ordnance]

Brian,

Nice find. You probably have most of the basics regarding the history of the T13's figured out by now so I'll address the price issue.

Like all militaria, ordnance is worth what someone will pay at the moment and that seems to be rapidly moving up for scarce items. T13's used to be fairly available in the $150-$300 range and I've bought and sold 8 or 10 over the years in that ballpark. Ebay started changing the dynamics with these as well and the last couple I saw sold there or by direct offering were in the $600-$800 range. That said, a nice yellow Mk2 frag in the tube sold on eBay a couple weeks back for over $1300 and a Vietnam era M26 type for over $1600! Neither are common but both are easier to find than a T13, and I haven't seen a T13 at all on eBay in a year or two. That kind of infrequency of listing usually produces an absurd sale price which, in turn, often brings more out the woodwork. If I had one to sell, I'd probably be happy to get $700 out of it but wouldn't be surprised to see one sell at auction for twice that much or more.


And after posting this tonight and poking around eBay for the first time in a week, look what shows up........see item #160141799215 and I guess we'll see what the going rate is.

[Sirius9024]

Thanks for the help with this item and all the info that you guys gave me.
Very interesting to see one up on ebay and the high price with 4 days left to go. I'll be watching it to see how it goes and this might help determine what I can trade or pay.
Enjoy,
Brian

[Zapper]

There is one for sale on eBay right now:
http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-T13-BEANO-I...QQcmdZViewItem

[Ordnance]

Well, I guess we know a little more today about what a T-13 Beano is worth, at least in the world of eBay. It sold for $2010!!