Original German WWII 1940 dated Model 39 Inert Egg Hand Grenade with Waffenamt – Eierhandgranate Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is one of the best examples of the extremely rare M1939, M39 or Eierhandgranate (egg hand grenade) that we have ever seen! It is in great shape, and has German WWII markings and dates all over! The grenade has been deactivated according to specifications provided by the ATF. It is totally inert, cannot be converted to an explosive device.

This example is in very good condition, with almost all of the original paint retained on the body, which still bears originally issue markings! The top is marked with a partial  WaA Waffenamt inspection marking, and the bottom is marked with 40 eyu, for 1940 manufacture by contractor “eyu”, a maker code seen on many period grenades. Unfortunately we have not been able to identify this maker.

The grenade still has the original screw off “wings” as well as the blue fuze top, marked lqk / 42, for 1942 manufacture. We also have not been able to identify this maker, which could also be “lgk” or possibly another marking. There are many maker codes from WWII that have never been identified, which was the entire purpose of the naming system.

What really makes this grenade stand out is the ink markings on the side: K qw dgl. 41. This most likely indicates the date that the shell was filled with explosives, and gives specifications on the filling.

A totally honest original German Egg Grenade, in great condition with loads of markings. This would make a worthy addition to any grenade collection, ready to research and display!

The Model 39 Eihandgranate (or Eierhandgranate, “egg hand grenade”) was a German hand grenade introduced in 1939 and produced until the end of World War II. The Eihandgranate used the same fuse assembly (the BZE 39) as the Model 43 Stielhandgranate (“Stick Grenade”), which was screwed into the top of the sheet-metal body. To activate, the domed cap was unscrewed, and the pull-cord that had been coiled inside it was tugged sharply before throwing at the target.

The color of the cap indicated the burning time of the type of fuze fitted. Typically, a delay of around 4 seconds was used. However, if a grenade was to be used as a fixed booby-trap then an instantaneous fuse would be fitted. Enemy soldiers who found seemingly discarded grenades would attempt to use them (expecting a standard time delay) only to be blown up the moment they tugged on the pull-cord. Another scenario was to wire an instantaneously fuzed grenade to a door-frame in an abandoned building. Then the pull-cord would be attached to the door. When the door was kicked open by opposing troops the grenade would detonate.

Fuze Cap Colors:

Grey – zero delay (used exclusively for booby-traps and fuse ignitors)
Red – 1 second delay (for coloured smoke, but also booby-traps)
Blue – 4.5 second delay (this was the standard fuze and the one most commonly issued)
Yellow – 7.5 seconds 

As grenades were disposable, encountering them on the market is very rare, especially with the original fuze in place, making this an excellent opportunity to acquire one to complete a WWII ordnance collection.