Original Item: Only One Available. This is a rare example of a practice training M1924, M24, or Stielhandgranate 24 ("stalk hand grenade") German Stick Grenade, often called a "potato masher". They are officially termed Übungshandgranate, which literally means Exercise Hand Grenade. This is Not Available for Export.

The warhead no longer unscrews, but the bottom cap does, and what appears to be a wooden bead is inside. The cap is different from the majority of those we have seen with a rounded bottom. The warhead is now loose and wobbly on the shaft, but is still attached. It still retains some of the original red paint on the warhead, and the original markings can be seen on the head and shaft of the grenade.

The side of the head bears manufacturer code ЯR / 1939, for 1939 manufacture by Richard Rinker GmbH, Menden, Kreis Iserlohn. Richard Rinker GmbH was founded in 1910, and was situated in Menden in Iserlohn. It specialized in the production of castings, especially of building hardware made of brass. In the mid-1930s the production was switched to light metals. They were still in production in 1991, manufacturing heaters under the name BAUFA-Werke Richard Rinker GMBH.

The wood shaft is marked 5 ½ Sek. - S.E.B., meaning it may have been taken from a real M24 grenade and attached to this training head. There is another ink stamp marking, likely the date of manufacture, that is now too worn to read. 

Training grenades are difficult to find as by early 1943 production of practice grenades had stopped. This is a fair example with a replacement shaft from an M24, sure to make a good addition to your collection!

In WW2 the stick of the German M24 (Model 24) grenade provided a lever, significantly improving the throwing distance. The Model 24 could be thrown approximately 30 to 40 yards, whereas the British Mills bomb could only be thrown about 15 yards. The design also minimized the risk of the grenade rolling downhill back towards the thrower when used in hilly terrain or in urban areas. These grenades were extremely useful for clearing out entrenched infantry positions.

As grenades were disposable, encountering them on the market is very rare, especially with the original pull string and weight, making this an excellent opportunity to acquire one to complete a WW2 ordnance collection. Comes ready for further research and display!

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).