WW2 GERMAN ARMY M43 DE-ACTIVATED STICK GRENADE
HISTORY
The original German stick grenade of note became the Model 24. Its basic design essentially comprised a hollowed wooden stick that acted as the handle which itself was attached to the base of a cylindrical metal can, the latter becoming the grenade proper. A pull-cord was exposed at the bottom of the base of the stick handle and, once pulled, the grenade's five second fuse timer was set and the grenade could be throw at a target area. Its design ensured (to an extent) that the fallen grenade would not roll back in the direction of the thrower (of on a relatively smooth, angled surface). However, its rather larger size (for a hand grenade) made it possible for enemies to identify the thrown grenade, recover it before detonation and throw the weapon back in the direction of the enemy. If accomplished in due time, this could of course hold disastrous effects on the original thrower's position. After some operational use, the Model 24 was revised in1916 with a screw-bottom cap at the bottom of the stick handle which needed to be removed to access the pull-cord. This was brought about as snagging of the exposed pull-cord in the original design became a rather lethal problem in-the-field. Beyond this, the hand grenade functioned in the exact same way.
The detonating portion of the grenade was its cylindrical "head" (of iron or steel construction). It was comprised of trinitrotouene filling - otherwise known by its abbreviation "TNT". As the TNT detonated, the metal cylinder shattered into multiple fragments. However, the German stick grenade was not a true "fragmentation" grenade weapon - it relied moreso on the shock value of its blast than endangering targets with shrapnel. Only a 1942 development, essentially a metal sleeve fitted over the head of the grenade, transformed the stick grenade into something akin to a conventional fragmentation grenade. Model 24 stick grenades did not arrive ready for use - its detonator needed to be installed prior to use by unscrewing the wooden handle from its grenade head and inserting the detonator into the open end of the delay fuze. The handle and head were then reattached as normal.
ITEM DESCRIPTION
This grenade is a Model 43 Steilhandgranate (Steel hand grenade) of the WW2 era. The wooden shaft is maker marked and dated WC 1943. The screw cap to the base is present but a bit loose.
The head is detachable from the wooden shaft and is fitted with the rare fragmentation sleeve. There is no pull string running through the shaft. This a very rare find indeed for the ordanance collector.