Original German WWII 1943 dated M24 Stick Grenade by Otto Schmidt – Stielhandgranate Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is an extremely rare M1924, M24, or “Stielhandgranate (stalk hand grenade) 24″ German Stick Grenade, often called a “potato masher”. This example, acquired from the family of a WWII veteran, has been demilitarized according to specifications by the BATF. It still retains its original paint, and the original markings can be seen on the warhead & handle of the grenade.

The warhead is in very nice condition, and still has most of the original green paint, and the top of the grenade is stamped 43 fcc, for 1943 manufacture by Metallwarenfabrik Hermann Nier, Beierfeld bei Schwarzenberg, Erzgebirge. This company was founded by Ernst and Hermann Nier, and they started to manufacture lanterns by hand in Beierfeld in the Erzgebirge in 1880. A few years later the production was changed to mechanical manufacture of storm lanterns. During WW1 they manufactured Stielhandgranate 15 and steel helmets. In 1937 the number of lanterns sold amounted to around 12 million units. The production of lanterns was ended in 1943 and replaced by ammunition parts, especially Stielhandgranate 24 and 43, but they also manufactured parts for the V-1 and V-2. Metallwarenfabrik Hermann Nier was the only maker that manufactured the third version (stamped threads) of the Stielhandgranate 24 in numbers. The company was never assigned an early code. By December 1944 the workforce was up to 1622 persons, including 65 forced laborers from the occupied territories in the east. They worked 73 hours each week. After the end of World War II, the company was expropriated and dismantled by the Soviet occupation force.

The wood shaft handle is also very nice, with the wood in good shape. It is maker marked with 43 ghs, for 1943 manufacture by Otto l. Schmidt, Ingenieur. Berlin Hohenschönhausen, Quitzowstr 14.

The lower screw cap is in great shape, with almost all of the original finish, and the fitting on the end of the shaft is great as well. The shaft is correctly hollow to allow the internal components and porcelain “donut” bead with pull string (not included).

Comes ready to display!

The Stielhandgranate (German for “stick hand grenade”) was a German hand grenade distinguished by its wooden handle. It was a standard grenade for the German Empire during World War I, and Germany’s Wehrmacht during World War II. Its distinctive appearance led to it being called a “stick grenade”, or “potato masher” in British Army slang, and it remains one of the most easily recognized infantry weapons of the 20th century.

Germany entered World War I with a single grenade type: a heavy 750-gram (26 oz) ball-shaped fragmentation grenade (Kugelhandgranate) for use only by pioneers in attacking fortifications. It was too heavy for regular battlefield use by untrained troops and not suitable for mass production. This left Germany without a standard-issue grenade and improvised designs similar to those of the British were used until a proper grenade could be supplied.

Germany introduced the “stick grenade” in 1915, the second year of the conflict. Aside from its unusual appearance, the Stielhandgranate used a friction igniter system. This had been used in other German grenades, but was uncommon internationally.

During World War I, the Stielhandgranate, under the name M1915 (Model 1915), competed technologically with the British standard-issue Mills bomb series. The first Mills bomb – the grenade No. 5 Mk. 1 – was introduced the same year as the German Model 1915, but due to manufacturing delays it was not widely distributed into general service until 1916. Thus, there was a small period of time where German troops had large supplies of new Model 1915 grenades, while their British opponents only had a small number.

As World War I progressed, the Model 1915 Stielhandgranate was improved with various changes. These variants received designations such as the Model 1916 and the Model 1917.

Model 1924 (M24)
Upon the German Empire’s defeat at the conclusion of World War I, the collapse of industrial capability and military strength of Germany left many projects and ideas forgotten for years. When the newly created Weimar Republic progressively began to repair both the physical and economic devastation, a slow rebuilding of the armed forces was allowed under the limitations set by the allies.

The Weimar Republic revived the Stielhandgranate, and created a new version in 1924, the “Model 1924 Stielhandgranate” (M24). While retaining the same explosive and fuse, the main distinction between the M24 and the original M15 is a slightly shorter charge head and the removal of a belt carry clip. Another change in the design was a lengthening of the wooden handle. The intent of these design alterations was simply for mobility; German soldiers could easily (and often did) tuck the grenade in behind their uniform’s belt, held tight and secure. Being slightly lighter, and smaller in thickness, this improved overall use.

The M24 is well known as the standard hand grenade of the armed forces of the Wehrmacht during World War II. Adapting to the rapidly changing field of modern warfare, German soldiers would carry the M24 directly in front, allowing quick and easy access. However, in the later years of the war it was often advised to carry them in a different manner, as it was very likely any sort of explosion or heat could light the fuse from the grenade on the belt, resulting in unnecessary casualties.

The Model 24 Stielhandgranate was stored in specially designed crates during transport, which could carry up to 15 individual grenades. As a safety precaution, units of the Wehrmacht were advised to only insert the actual fuse assemblies when about to go into combat. Later in the war, however, many soldiers of the Wehrmacht would always have their weapons ready, due to the fierceness seen in the Soviet Red Army in the east and the progressive advance of the Allies on the Western Front. During production, a reminder was stenciled on each explosive charge: Vor Gebrauch Sprengkapsel einsetzen (“Before use insert detonator”).

The Model 1924 was rather ineffective by itself at damaging or disabling an enemy armored vehicle or destroying fortifications. It also lacked the shrapnel effect of most other grenades of the time. To overcome these faults, various German industries during World War II produced a number of variants that widened the utility and capability of the M24.