Original Austro-Hungarian WWI 1st Model Zeitzünder Gewehrgranate “Corn” Rifle 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”) rifle 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 has had the rod removed, either to use as a hand grenade, or more likely, to make it easier to stow in a pack when bringing home, as the original rod was nearly the entire length of the rifle barrel.  It had to be, due to the heavy weight of the 1st model.

The exterior is very good, with little rust, and a lot of the original clear finish present. The original inertial friction fuse still attached to the bottom of the grenade by its twine wrapping. The nose cap unscrews, allowing the interior of the grenade to be inspected. The fuse end also unscrews, showing the base of the fuse. There are a few arsenal marks stamped into the body of the grenade near the fuse end. 

The first variant of this grenade 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).