Original German WWII BK-1H Blendkörper Frangible Chemical Smoke Glass Grenade – Inert Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. Ultra rare example of the first model Blendkörper (Blinding Device) BK-1H, introduced in 1941 as an anti tank weapon. It consists of a glass pear shape bottle with cardboard stopper. This example to empty and totally inert.

The Blendkörper were thrown against tanks, smashing the glass containers allowing the chemicals to mix creating a spontaneous volatile reaction. Target areas were hatches, air vents or other openings leading to the main crew compartment. The caustic smoking mixture would penetrate to the interior of the tank incapacitating the crew, forcing them to abandon their vehicle.
This munition consists of a tear-drop shaped flask, 6 inches long with a maximum diameter of 2-1/2 inches, sealed at the upper end by drawing out the flask. The sealed tip is protected by a cardboard sleeve, sealed with a plaster of Paris type material. When filled the flask weighs 13.2 ounces with 10.6 ounces of amber-colored titanium tetrachloride, (FM).

The Type 1 H munition is used by throwing against a hard surface which breaks the flask. The titanium tetrachloride then vaporizes, forming a smoke cloud which varies greatly with the relative humidity, being dense at a high humidity and thin at a low humidity.

The grenades were individually packed in a hexagonal, three-ply, corrugated paper container 6-1/2 inches long, by 3 inches square, wrapped in a transparent cellulose material. The top of the box had a handle which when pulled, removes the cover and flask. A label on the box gives in German the following directions:

Smoke Grenade 1 H
(BK 1 H)
Directions for use.
1. For carrying, leave the smoke grenade in the cardboard box.
2. For throwing, remove the smoke grenade from the box; draw out the cover with the smoke grenade hanging in the band; take the smoke grenade in the throwing hand and remove the cover.
3. Throw the smoke grenade with force at the target, peephole, sights, etc.