An elderly woman inadvertently used a live hand grenade as a hammer for the last 20 years.
The pensioner, named Qin, found the strange “metal lump” in the ground on her farm two decades ago.
She said she mistook the object for a hammer because of its shape.
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Since then, she has been using the stick grenade as an everyday hammer to crack open nuts and bang in nails.
Qin, who comes from Xiangyang in Hubei Province, China, said: “I’ve been using it at home to ground red pepper, crack nuts, and hammer in nails.”
However, she was informed that it was, in fact, a hand grenade, when workers came to demolish her old home.
They immediately informed the authorities.
Police officers arrived at the farm with a bomb disposal unit.
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The authorities decided to seize the explosive.
A spokesperson said: “After confiscating the grenade, we asked professionals to destroy it.”
They also staged a safety education class for villagers.
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The police said: “If you find any suspicious objects that look like hand grenades, you must report it to the police immediately.
“Do not touch it or use it as a hammer or the consequences could be disastrous.”
According to images, the grenade’s wooden handle had become smooth and shiny after years of use, while the head showed significant dents from the repeated hammer blows.
The object was later identified as a Type 67 stick hand grenade, as reported by What’s The Jam.
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