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A Rare And Incredibly Collectable Original Souvenir of WW1 Trench Warfare Inert WW1 German 1915/1916 Stick Grenade A Rare And Incredibly Collectable Original Souvenir of WW1 Trench Warfare Inert WW1 German 1915/1916 Stick Grenade A Rare And Incredibly Collectable Original Souvenir of WW1 Trench Warfare Inert WW1 German 1915/1916 Stick Grenade A Rare And Incredibly Collectable Original Souvenir of WW1 Trench Warfare Inert WW1 German 1915/1916 Stick Grenade A Rare And Incredibly Collectable Original Souvenir of WW1 Trench Warfare Inert WW1 German 1915/1916 Stick Grenade A Rare And Incredibly Collectable Original Souvenir of WW1 Trench Warfare Inert WW1 German 1915/1916 Stick Grenade A Rare And Incredibly Collectable Original Souvenir of WW1 Trench Warfare Inert WW1 German 1915/1916 Stick Grenade A Rare And Incredibly Collectable Original Souvenir of WW1 Trench Warfare Inert WW1 German 1915/1916 Stick Grenade

A Rare And Incredibly Collectable Original Souvenir of WW1 Trench Warfare Inert WW1 German 1915/1916 Stick Grenade

Only the second we have had in the past six months Inert WW1 German 1915/1916 Stick Grenade, an interesting transitional period example with the head section being the early 1915 type and the haft being the later pattern with the porcelain ball to the inside of the wood. Haft nicely stamped “5 ½ SECONDE” and a Berlin makers mark. The Stielhandgranate (German for "stick hand grenade") was a German hand grenade of unique design. It was the standard issue of the German Empire during World War I, and became the widespread issue of Nazi Germany's Wehrmacht during World War II. The very distinctive appearance led to it being called a "stick grenade", or "potato masher" in British Army slang, and is today one of the most easily recognized infantry weapons of the 20th century Germany entered World War I with a single grenade design: a heavy 750-gram (26 oz) ball-shaped fragmentation grenade (Kugelhandgranate) for use only by pioneers in attacking fortifications. It was too heavy for regular use on the battlefield by untrained troops and not suitable for mass production. This left Germany without a standard-issue grenade and improvised designs similar to those of the British were used until a proper grenade could be supplied.

The "stick grenade" first appeared in the midst of World War I; it was introduced in 1915 for use by the German Empire's armed forces. As time went on, the design further developed, adding and removing certain features. Aside from its unique and unusual appearance, the Stielhandgranate used a friction igniter system, a method very uncommon in other nations but widely used in German grenades.

During World War I, the original design of the Stielhandgranate, under the name M1915 (Model 1915), was in direct technological competition with the British standard-issue Mills bomb series. The first design model of the Mills bomb – the grenade No. 5 Mk. 1 – was introduced the same year as the German Model 1915, but due to delays in manufacturing it was not widely distributed into general service until 1916. (There was a small period of time where German troops had large supplies of new Model 1915 grenades, while their British opponents only had a very small number.)

As World War I progressed, the Model 1915 Stielhandgranate was further improved with various changes. These received new designations corresponding for the year of introduction, such as the Model 1916 and the Model 1917. Old glue marks / residue towards the top of the haft and grenade head. Old collectors label attached. This item is empty and safe, legal to own within the UK. The thread to attach the bottom cap to the handle is not present, but the cap is original and complete with pulling cord and porcelain ball.

Not suitable for export.

Code: 23341