An elderly woman in China was shocked to discover that for 20 years she had been using what she thought was a simple hammer to crack nuts and drive nails, but the tool was actually a hand grenade.
This incredible story began 20 years ago, when a 90-year-old woman surnamed Qin from Xiangyang city in central China's Hubei province discovered a rare “metal lump” while working on her farm in Huangbao county.
She mistook it for a hammer because of its shape and took it home to use for various household tasks.
“I use it at home to pound chili peppers, crack nuts and hammer in nails,” Qin explained in a video that has gone viral online.
It was only discovered that she had in fact been handling a lethal device on June 23rd, when workers demolishing her old house recognised it as a grenade.
Because of the shape of the grenade, the elderly villager thought it was a tool and used it as such. Photo: Baidu
They immediately notified the authorities.
Huangbao Police Station responded quickly and reported the incident to local public security authorities, who dispatched officers and a bomb disposal squad to the scene.
A viral online video showed that the grenade's wooden handle was smooth and shiny from years of use, while the head had a large hole in it from being repeatedly struck with a hammer.
Notably, part of the grenade's fuse was exposed.
Police later seized the weapons and “after confiscating the grenade, we have sent it to experts to destroy it,” he said.
Safety education sessions were also held for villagers.
The officer warned them: “If you find any suspicious objects like grenades, you must report them to the police immediately. Do not touch them or use them as hammers, as this could have dire consequences!”
The Taishū Daily reported that the grenade was a domestically produced Type 67, which could be identified by its wooden handle and metal protective cap.
Since it hadn't exploded in over 20 years, speculation was rife online.
Some people suggested it might be a training grenade, similar in shape but containing no gunpowder.
Others countered that since the guns were confiscated by police they couldn't be fake, adding that “it was only an exceptional case that they didn't explode.”
The incident also sparked much laughter on social media.
Workers demolishing the elderly woman's old house recognized it as a grenade and called the police. Photo: Baidu
One online observer said: “It's amazing that Grandma Qin has been using a grenade as a hammer for over 20 years without ever removing the fuse out of curiosity.”
“If it were me, I wouldn't have resisted the urge to pull it and see what would happen.”
Another added: “Apparently grenades have rules and don't explode on kind-hearted elderly people.”
A third quipped: “The handle is smooth and shiny too. The grenade might be thinking 'Officer, please take me away quickly, I've been given way too many missions while I'm here'.”
“Even the police were shocked when they saw the video! This old lady is so lucky and blessed,” another said.
