That was one explosive estate-sale discovery.
A Texas man found live World War II-era grenades in a box purchased at an estate sale, leading Austin police to call in their bomb squad.
The Austin Police Department said it received the “unusual call” Monday after the buyer was sorting through the boxes and realized one contained handheld explosives.
Patrol officers quickly secured the area, established a perimeter and protected nearby residents while awaiting the arrival of the department’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal team, police said in an Instagram post.
Bomb technicians determined that the grenades were “live and active.”
Images released by police showed at least three loose U.S. Mk 2 fragmentation grenades inside the box. The weapons are commonly known as “pineapples,” a reference to their distinctive shape and grooved cast-iron bodies.
The Mk 2 served as the U.S. military’s standard fragmentation grenade from World War II through the Korean War and into the Vietnam War.
The container also appeared to include shipping tubes and other packaging, including one labeled for an M21 practice grenade.
The bomb squad removed the devices safely, according to police.
An Austin Police Department spokesperson told Chron that officers ultimately recovered six grenades. All appeared to date from World War II and remained in good condition considering their age.
“Bomb Squad personnel assessed the devices, including X-ray examination. Based on their interpretation of the X-ray images, the grenades appeared to be live and were treated accordingly,” the spokesperson told the outlet.
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Police said the bomb squad then carried out render-safe procedures to remove any potential danger. No investigation remains active.
“A big shoutout to our APD Bomb Squad. These officers bring a level of training, expertise, and steady nerves that most people never see,” the department said on Instagram.
“Handling 80-year-old explosives with unknown stability is dangerous, precise work, and they do it with the professionalism this city counts on.”
Although police said no crime had been committed, they urged residents to contact authorities if they encounter similar military ordnance.
“If you ever come across old military ordnance (grenades, shells, mortar rounds, etc.), even if you think it’s inert, don’t touch it, don’t move it, and call 911. Let the experts handle it,” the department said.
The buyer was not charged, but Texas law still prohibits civilians from possessing hand grenades and other explosive devices classified as prohibited weapons.
Under Texas Penal Code Section 46.05, unlawfully possessing an explosive weapon such as a grenade is a third-degree felony punishable by two to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
The Austin discovery is not the first case in which someone found live grenades while shopping for secondhand goods.
In 2025, employees at a Goodwill store in Maine found military-grade grenades and mortars concealed inside a donation box.
The store was evacuated while the Maine State Police Bomb Squad assessed the devices, which were found to be inactive.