Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original German 3.7cm Pak 36 armor-piercing round dated 1936, complete with its original cartridge case. The round is totally inert and BATF compliant, with no explosive or propellant material remaining. It is offered in heavily oxidized condition with substantial finish loss and surviving German markings on the base of the cartridge case.

This round has been completely deactivated and is totally inert. Unloaded or dummy ordnance that has been rendered permanently incapable of use as ammunition is intended for display and collection only. NOT AVAILABLE FOR EXPORT.

The base of the cartridge case retains the following markings:

30
P131 1936
6331
Waffenamt
3,7cm Pak

The 1936 date places this example in the early production period of the Pak 36 system, before the outbreak of WWII. The case and projectile show heavy oxidation, staining, surface loss, and general age-related wear. The projectile is loose in the case but is not currently removable.

Overall length is approximately: 13 1/2 inches

The 3.7cm Pak 36, or Panzerabwehrkanone 36, was the principal German anti-tank gun used by Wehrmacht Panzerjäger units during the opening years of WWII. Developed by Rheinmetall beginning in 1933, the weapon entered German service in 1936.

By the outbreak of the war in September 1939, approximately 9,120 Pak 36 guns were reportedly available, with a further 5,339 produced during the war. The design was widely exported and was influential internationally, with related or copied weapons appearing in several other countries. The Soviet 45mm anti-tank gun Model 1932, or 19-K, was among the designs influenced by the German system.

The Pak 36 first saw combat during the Spanish Civil War beginning in 1936, where it performed effectively against the relatively lightly armored vehicles then in use. During the invasion of Poland in 1939, it was generally capable of dealing with the Polish armored vehicles it encountered.

The limitations of the 3.7cm gun became increasingly apparent during the 1940 campaign in France. Heavier Allied tanks, including the French Char B1 and British Matilda II, could resist its standard armor-piercing ammunition. German crews later gave the gun the mocking nickname “Heeresanklopfgerät,” or roughly “Army door-knocking device,” reflecting its diminishing effectiveness against heavier armor.

During the invasion of the Soviet Union, the Pak 36 encountered the newer T-34 and KV-1 tanks, whose armor was largely beyond the capability of its standard ammunition. However, the majority of Soviet armored vehicles in 1941 were lighter types, and the Pak 36 continued to be effective against many of these.

The gun was progressively replaced by the larger 5cm Pak 38 beginning in late 1940 and by the 7.5cm Pak 40 from late 1941. Production of the Pak 36 ended in the early years of the war as its anti-armor limitations became increasingly apparent.

The later introduction of the Stielgranate 41 shaped-charge projectile gave surviving Pak 36 guns a renewed ability to defeat substantially heavier armor, although its short effective range left crews dangerously exposed. The Pak 36 continued to see use with German airborne forces because of its relatively light weight and maneuverability, as well as with second-line, garrison, training, and Axis-allied units through the end of the war.

With its clearly visible 1936 date, surviving German base markings, original cartridge case, and complete inert projectile, this is a good early example of ammunition for one of Germany’s best-known prewar and early WWII anti-tank guns.

Totally inert, cannot be converted to an explosive device, not available for export. This item is completely legal within the USA. International Military Antiques, Inc observes all Federal, State and Local laws. Everything for sale on ima-usa.com is completely legal to own, trade, transport and sell within the United States of America.

All deactivated ordnance sold by IMA, Inc is engineered to be inoperable according to guidelines provided by the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATF).