{"product_id":"original-german-wwii-inert-98k-rifle-schiessbecher-anti-tank-grenade-grosse-gewehrpanzergranate-restored-markings","title":"Original German WWII Inert 98k Rifle Schießbecher Anti-Tank Grenade - Große Gewehrpanzergranate - Restored Markings","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is an original German WWII Große Gewehrpanzergranate anti-tank rifle grenade intended for use with the 30mm Schießbecher grenade launcher fitted to the Karabiner 98k. Designed to give the individual German infantryman a portable means of attacking armored vehicles, the Große Gewehrpanzergranate used a shaped charge warhead and became one of the principal anti-tank rifle grenades employed by the German Army. This example retains its sheet metal warhead body, Bakelite lower section with intact rifling grooves, and internal shaped charge housing. Its exterior shows substantial battlefield type age and corrosion, while the visible stencil markings have been recently restored for display.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis grenade is totally inert and contains no explosive material. Unloaded or dummy grenades, artillery shell casings, and similar devices, which are cut or drilled in an BATF-approved manner so that they cannot be used as ammunition components for destructive devices, are not considered NFA weapons. This example is in total compliance and is \u003cstrong\u003eNOT AVAILABLE FOR EXPORT\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKnown in German as the:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGroße Gewehrpanzergranate\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ethe grenade was a HEAT, or High Explosive Anti-Tank, projectile developed for use with the German Schießbecher rifle grenade launching system. It incorporated a tapered shaped charge warhead approximately 45mm to 39mm in profile and was intended primarily for use against armored vehicles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe shaped charge principle concentrated the explosive force into a high velocity jet capable of penetrating armor. Unlike conventional kinetic projectiles, its effectiveness was not principally dependent upon striking the target at extremely high velocity. The Große Gewehrpanzergranate was rated for approximately 70mm of armor penetration, making it a significant improvement in the anti-armor capability available to an individual rifleman.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe grenade consists of a sheet metal warhead body fitted with a nose cap and a Bakelite lower shaft. The internal shaped charge housing remains present inside the warhead on this example. The base fuze would originally have been housed within the Bakelite section, but the fuze is absent.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Bakelite lower body remains intact and displays an attractive aged color. Its external rifling grooves are also clearly preserved. These grooves were an important part of the Schießbecher system and distinguish German rifle grenades intended for the launcher from simpler fin stabilized or smooth bore grenade designs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Schießbecher, literally “shooting cup,” was a 30mm rifled grenade launcher that could be attached to the muzzle of the Karabiner 98k. Rather than simply launching a projectile from a smooth cup, the rifling within the launcher engaged corresponding ribs or grooves on the grenade body. This imparted spin to the projectile and was intended to provide a more consistent and stable trajectory.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA special blank propellant cartridge was used to launch the grenade. The system allowed an ordinary infantry rifle to serve as a grenade launching platform without permanently altering the basic weapon, giving German infantry units access to anti-personnel, anti-armor, and other specialized grenade types.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis example is in fair, heavily pitted condition. The metal surfaces show substantial corrosion and loss of the original finish, consistent with long term exposure and age. The surviving Bakelite portion is much better preserved and remains intact.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe exterior stencil currently reads:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e44 cdo 38k\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original stencil was heavily worn and has been restored recently for display. The visible lettering and numbers should therefore not be regarded as untouched surviving wartime paint, although they reproduce the marking that remained discernible on the grenade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe combination of a surviving original warhead body, intact internal shaped charge housing, complete Bakelite lower section with rifling grooves, and restored wartime style stencil gives this example considerable visual and technical interest. The absent fuze, heavy pitting, finish loss, and modern restoration of the exterior markings are fully disclosed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a strong display example of one of the more recognizable German WWII rifle launched anti-tank munitions. Its connection to the Karabiner 98k Schießbecher system, surviving Bakelite rifled body, internal shaped charge housing, and heavily aged exterior make it particularly appealing for a German WWII infantry weapons, inert ordnance, anti-tank weapons, or rifle grenade collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44764586541125,"sku":"ONSV26FWI033","price":175.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONSV26FWI033__03.jpg?v=1773083144","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-wwii-inert-98k-rifle-schiessbecher-anti-tank-grenade-grosse-gewehrpanzergranate-restored-markings","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}