Original Item. Only One Available. This is an extremely scarce example of the Ruchnaya Protivotankovaya Granata, or RPG-6 Handheld Anti-Tank Grenade. The RPG-6 was designed as a replacement for the RPG-43 after the Battle of Kursk. It underwent testing in September 1943, and was accepted into service in October 1943. First RPG-6 grenades were used against Axis troops in last week of October 1943. The weapon was a success and went into mass production in late 1943. During the war, RPG-6 grenades being used alongside the RPG-43. RPG was the Russian designation, not the more usual abbreviation of "Rocket-Propelled-Grenade". Like all deactivated ordnance, this grenade is Not Available for Export.

This example is in rough shape, with much of the paint retained on the head, as well as some very faint white stenciled markings. The grenade measures roughly 13½” long and the head still screws on & off of the shaft well. The very bottom of the grenade appears to have broken off and there is some stiff canvas material in the bottom. There are four holes in the head which appear to have been part of the de-milling process. There are several dents in the head. It does not retain the safety pin.

This is a great displayable example of a very scarce grenade, ready for further research and display. This is the first example we have offered, so don’t miss out!

The RPG-6 operated on the shaped charge Munroe effect principle, in which a metal-lined cone-shaped explosive charge would generate a focused jet of hot metal that could penetrate armor-plate.

It was a conical casing enclosing a shaped charge and containing 562 grams of trinitrotoluene (TNT), fitted with a percussion fuse and four cloth ribbons to provide stability in flight after throwing. It could penetrate approximately 100 millimeters of armor. The RPG-6 had a fragmentation radius of 20 meters from the point of detonation, and proved useful against infantry and tanks.

The RPG-43 had a large warhead, but was designed to detonate in contact with a tank's armor; it was later found that optimal performance was gained from a high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead if it exploded a short distance from the armor, roughly the same distance as the weapon's diameter. In the RPG-6 this was achieved by adding a hollow pointed nose section with an impact fuse in it, so that when the weapon detonated the warhead was at an optimum distance from the armor.

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. Every display machine gun and machine gun parts set and gun sold by IMA, Inc is engineered to be inoperable according to guidelines provided by the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATF).