Oh yeah, in the 18th century it was already turning into a honorary title more than a job, but it was still used. Grenades have historically been a “siege weapon” until the 20th century used when storming forts (and one could argue storming trenches is a form of siege warfare too). So yeah, pretty niche, this is exactly that kind of niche.
There’s even the famous song about throwing grenades from the glacis (meaning the exterior slope of a (star)fort) at the enemy, and it’s from the early 1700’s.
Hence “still in intermittent use”.
Also, grenadiers in the 18th century usually did not use, well, the grenades they were named for. It was always a bit of a niche weapon.
Oh yeah, in the 18th century it was already turning into a honorary title more than a job, but it was still used. Grenades have historically been a “siege weapon” until the 20th century used when storming forts (and one could argue storming trenches is a form of siege warfare too). So yeah, pretty niche, this is exactly that kind of niche.
There’s even the famous song about throwing grenades from the glacis (meaning the exterior slope of a (star)fort) at the enemy, and it’s from the early 1700’s.
Some talk of Alexander, and some of Hercules…