History Main / BoomInTheHand

* Most modern grenades are designed to avert this trope (when properly used, that is). Contrary to how grenades are depicted in media, it is ''not'' the pin that actually primes the grenade when removed; rather it's the lever holding down a striker that sets off the fuse, with the pin simply holding down the lever.[[note]] A grenade works like this: the pin that holds down the lever is pulled out, thus allowing the lever to fly off the grenade. Once the grenade-lever is removed, it releases the striker that hits the primer to activate a fuse, and once the fuse burns out after several seconds it sets off the detonator.[[/note]] As such, soldiers are taught to hold the grenade in their hand with their thumb or palm holding down the lever when the safety pin had been removed. Once they throw the explosive the lever flings right off, indicating the striker is released and fuse is activated. Because of this, as long as the soldier is holding the grenade properly by holding down the lever, it will not be primed. In fact, it's not uncommon for soldiers, when holding an otherwise ready-to-throw grenade, to simply ''put the pin back into the lever'' if they change their mind and decide not to use it (again, as long as the lever is still in place).

* Most modern grenades are designed to avert this trope (when properly used, that is). Contrary to how grenades are depicted in media, it is ''not'' the pin that actually primes the grenade when removed; rather it's the lever holding down a striker that sets off the fuse, with the pin simply holding down the lever.[[note]] A grenade works like this: the pin that holds down the lever is pulled out, thus allowing the lever to fly off the grenade. Once the grenade-lever is removed, it releases the striker that hits the primer to activate a fuse, and once the fuse burns out after several seconds it sets off the detonator.[[/note]] As such, soldiers are taught to hold the grenade in their hand with their thumb or palm holding down the lever. Once they throw the explosive the lever flings right off, indicating the striker is released and fuse is activated. Because of this, as long as the soldier is holding the grenade properly by holding down the lever, it will not be primed. In fact, it's not uncommon for soldiers, when holding an otherwise ready-to-throw grenade, to simply ''put the pin back into the lever'' if they change their mind and decide not to use it (again, as long as the lever is still in place).

* Most modern grenades are designed to avert this trope (when properly used, that is). Contrary to how grenades are depicted in media, it is ''not'' the pin that actually primes the grenade when removed; rather it's the lever holding down a striker that sets off the fuse, with the pin simply holding down the lever.[[note]] A grenade works like this: the pin that holds down the lever is pulled out, thus allowing the lever to fly off the grenade. Once the grenade-lever is removed, it releases the striker that hits the primer to activate a fuse, and once the fuse burns out after several seconds it sets off the detonator.[[/note]] As such, soldiers are taught to hold the grenade in their hand, with their thumb or palm holding down the lever. Once they throw the explosive the lever flings right off, indicating the striker and fuse are activated. Because of this, as long as the soldier is holding the grenade properly by holding down the lever it will not be primed. In fact, its not uncommon for soldiers, when holding a ready-to-throw grenade, to simply ''put the pin back into the lever'' if they change their mind and decide not to use it (again, as long as the lever is still in place).