Original WWII German Panzerfaust 30 Klein – Launcher & Rocket – Inert

Product Description:  The Panzerfaust 30 klein (“small”), also known as the Faustpatrone (“Tank Fist Small”), was the original production variant of Germany’s disposable anti-tank launcher. First delivered in August 1943, it weighed approximately 3.2 kilograms (7.1 lb) and measured 98.5 cm (38.8 in) in overall length. The designation “30” denoted its nominal effective range of 30 meters. The launcher featured a 3.3 cm diameter tube containing 54 grams of black powder propellant, designed to project a 10 cm warhead charged with 400 grams of explosive. Traveling at roughly 30 meters per second, the shaped-charge projectile was capable of penetrating approximately 140 mm of armor—an impressive achievement for so compact and economical a weapon.

Conceived as a simple, mass-producible solution to increasingly formidable Allied armor, the Panzerfaust became emblematic of Germany’s late-war defensive strategy on both the Eastern and Western fronts. Production of the Klein model was reportedly curtailed in early 1944, its performance soon superseded by improved variants offering greater penetration and range.

The present Original WWII German Panzerfaust 30 Klein – Launcher & Rocket – Inert is offered in relic, displayable condition. This piece looks to be a bog find and thus exhibits pronounced oxidation and surface corrosion consistent with prolonged exposure. The original leaf sight remains present, though delicate and slightly loose. The tube is intact but no longer retains its trigger assembly. The rocket head has been rendered inert, with explosive and propellant removed.  The rocket post with fins remains secured in the tube, but is releasable to display separately. Some original paint survives on the head and tube, though largely obscured by age-related patina and corrosion. The rocket seats fully within the tube.

The tube itself retains traces of original finish but no longer shows stencil markings. Despite its relic state, this Original WWII German Panzerfaust 30 Klein – Launcher & Rocket – Inert remains a scarce and historically significant survival, offering collectors a rare opportunity to acquire an early example of one of the Second World War’s most recognizable infantry anti-tank weapons.

Unloaded, practice, or dummy grenades, artillery shell casings, and similar ordnance items that have been rendered inert through BATF‑approved cuts or drilling—ensuring they cannot function as components of destructive devices—are not classified as NFA weapons. This example fully meets those compliance requirements and is offered strictly within the United States and available to states that are legal. NOT AVAILABLE FOR EXPORT.

Historical Description: The Panzerfaust 30 Klein was one of the earliest operational models in Germany’s Panzerfaust series of disposable anti-tank weapons introduced during the Second World War. Developed in 1943 as a response to increasingly formidable Allied armored vehicles, the Panzerfaust represented a significant shift toward simple, mass-producible infantry anti-tank solutions. The “30” designation referred to its effective combat range of approximately 30 meters, while “Klein” (small) distinguished it from later, more powerful variants.

Consisting of a lightweight, single-use launch tube fitted with a pre-loaded propellant charge and a large hollow-charge warhead, the weapon employed the shaped-charge (HEAT) principle to penetrate armored vehicles regardless of projectile velocity. Its straightforward design allowed for rapid training and distribution among regular army units, Volksgrenadier formations, and later Volkssturm militia. Despite its short range, the Panzerfaust 30 Klein proved capable of defeating most contemporary Allied tanks when employed at close quarters.

Compact and inexpensive to manufacture, the Panzerfaust 30 Klein laid the foundation for subsequent improvements, including the Panzerfaust 60 and 100 models, which extended range and effectiveness. Historically, the weapon stands as an important milestone in the evolution of portable anti-tank armaments and reflects Germany’s increasing reliance on economical defensive weaponry during the latter stages of the war.

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