Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very good original Imperial German WWI Model 1915 n/A Kugelhandgranate, or “ball hand grenade,” complete with an original deactivated friction igniter. The grenade is completely inert and retains a particularly good, non-dug appearance, with only limited surface oxidation concentrated in the recessed grooves. The cast-iron body has developed a grayish patina rather than the darker appearance often encountered on surviving examples.

As they were not made in any large quantities, German Ball Grenades are rare in any condition. This example is quite nice, with very little major corrosion on the body, just some surface rust in the grooves. The body appears grayish instead of the normal black. It features an original deactivated friction-ignited fuze which is a bit deteriorated. The original zinc and steel fuze assembly is present, and is no longer able to be removed, likely seized from corrosion. This example is in great overall shape and was not ground dug like most examples you see.

The body of the Kugelhandgranate was cast iron 8 mm thick, spherical shaped and externally segmented designed to produce between 70 and 80 fragments. A bronze-like stick (which was the igniter) was introduced to the spherical body. The filling was a mixture of black powder, barium nitrate, and potassium perchlorate, and did not require a detonator. The friction igniter consisted of a bronze body with a central chamber filled with black powder and supplied with a 5 or 7 second delay, the powder train was topped with a priming wire made of brass with a loop at one end and serrated on the other. The serrated portion was coated with a mixture of ground glass, manganese dioxide, and potassium chlorate.

To be used, the friction wire had to be pulled from the igniter, starting the delay train at the last possible moment. To do this, a piece of leather was attached to the igniter with a snap hook; pulling this removed the wire so the grenade could be thrown. A man with average strength could throw this grenade about 15 m, which made it completely ineffective for standard infantry uses, unless they were used on a slope where the grenade could roll. The only way to reach longer (up to 300 m) ranges was the use of mechanical spring based grenade launchers.

This example is particularly noteworthy for the combination of its Model 1915 n/A simplified fragmentation body, original deactivated friction igniter, minimal heavy corrosion, and unusually good non-dug appearance. It provides a strong example of the German effort to simplify grenade production during the first full year of WWI while retaining the defensive fragmentation concept of the earlier M1913 Kugelhandgranate.

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).