Original Austro-Hungarian WWI 1st Model “Corn” Zeitzünder Gewehrgranate converted to Hand Grenade Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice totally inert BATF complaint example Austro-Hungarian 1st Model Zeitzünder (“time fuze”) grenade, known as Gewehrgranate, used during WWI. These are very similar to the Rohrhandgranate (Rod Hand Grenade), with the main difference being delivery system. The serrated fragmentation type is the first variant, the smooth bodied grenade is the second variant, the Model 16.

Both have the same inertial pull-fuze. When fired, the weight of the end piece would pull the friction igniter, automatically setting the time delay. Also, by just removing the rod, they could be used as hand grenades, one of the useful features of this type of time delay fuze. The soldier would need to pull off the fuze, as simply throwing it would not create enough inertia.

This example however has been modified for use as a hand grenade, in a very interesting way. It is also possible that it was made this way originally. It features the standard body, however it has a flat bottom, with no fuse opening. This looks to be just be press fit and soldered/welded. The other end of the grenade is unthreaded, and has a press fit fuze housing, with a cover over the fuse. It looks however like it is not a friction fuse, but possibly a standard timed fuse lit by a match.

We have never seen an Austro-Hungarian “Corn” grenade in this configuration before! Definitely worthy of further research.

The exterior finish is in very good condition, as is the grenade overall. The fuze assembly pulls out of the body for inspection of the interior. This is a very nice example of the 1st model grenade, converted for hand delivery, ready to display!

The first variant is heavily segmented, both inside and out, one of the most dramatic grenades in this regard. A comparison of the Zeitzünder rifle rod grenade can be made with its hand grenade counterpart, the Rohrhandgranate. The body style is identical, threaded at both ends, allowing different fore and aft pieces to be substituted so the center casting could be configured to be either a rifle or hand grenade.

The hand grenade example is staked across the plug of the wire handle. But this also could have been a configuration made in the field, depending on need. (A useful feature). All things considered, this seems to be a pretty versatile design that was easy to manufacture. One significant drawback however is its extreme weight and cumbersome size.

Apparently the nick-name “Guguruz” was applied to this grenade. There is no translation for this Austrian word. A Guguruz is a type of corn, the shape it somewhat resembles, so they named it that. Much like the American word “pineapple” applied to fragmentation grenades. Curious that hand munitions have had food related nick-names applied to them by solders around the world, (i.e. pineapple, lemon, potato masher, pear, egg … to name a few).