M24 Stick Grenade Dated 1943 with Original Pull String – Inert

Product Description: This M24 Stick Grenade dated 1943 is a choice example of this iconic piece of WWII ordnance. It is empty of explosive, so legal and safe to own. The warhead retains nearly all of the original smooth field gray paint, with slight wear. It still retains the correct original midwar type stamped ink marking with 1943 date. The metal is also stamped “dbp 43.” The shaft of this grenade is beautiful, with an attractive light color and minimal if any age toning. The zinc fitting at the end retains the original zinc screw-on end cap. Removing this cap reveals the original pull string with porcelain ball. The threaded warhead end of the shaft retains an inert, deactivated aluminum detonator. The shaft is stamped “43 bnb.” Warheads and handles were made by different companies, so having mismatching makers is very common. This M24 Stick Grenade dated 1943 would be perfect for a combat display. It keeps getting harder to find these in this condition. This one rates as excellent plus.

Historical Description: Learning from their experiences and defeat in the previous war, Germany would develop new strategies for warfare. The result was a hard hitting, mobile warfare, which relied on speed and coordination. It would later be known as “Blitzkrieg”.  This new style of warfare would require changes to be made from how the Generals conducted operations, down to the individual soldier’s equipment.  As the Third Reich began rearming Germany during the 1930’s, due to the economic situation, much of the equipment and gear the fighting forces initially received would be from the First World War. This necessary reissuing of equipment combined with the revolutionary tactics being developed forced the German military to adapt their gear and equipment to these changes. As the German economy improved and more funding was available to the military, new equipment would be developed to replace the obsolete World War One equipment. The outbreak of World War Two pushed the development and issuing of new equipment to German soldiers to new levels. New designs and manufacturing techniques were developed. As the war progressed and fortunes changed, the German Third Reich was forced to cut production time, while continuing to develop better equipment. These changes to production, combined with newer designs, produced a vast array of equipment variants. Today these variants of equipment show proof of the drastic changes made by the German Military during World War 2.