Original German WWII M24 Inert Stick Grenade Stielhandgranate by Friedrich Maurer Söhne, Eisenwerk und Kesselschmiede – Dated 1943 Original Items

Original Item. Only One Available. This is a lovely example of a WWII German M-1924 German Stick Grenade. This very nice example has been demilitarized according to specifications by the BATF. It still retains its original paint and the original markings can be seen only on the head of the grenade. The interior even still retains the full pull cord with bead and weight. Like all deactivated ordnance, this grenade is not available for export.

The grenade is in overall great shape with few flaws. The bottom cap still unscrews and contains the full pull cord with bead and weight. The head of the grenade is marked wc 43 for Hasag, Hugo Schneider AG, Metalwarenfabrik Leipzig, werk Meuselwitz, Thuringia. The marking is very clear, and on the side of the body the stamp Do.3.43 is visible.

Metallwarenfabrik Hugo Schneider AG was founded in 1899. In the first years their main products were metal lamps and cookers. With the Great war they changed their production to ammunition components and other war materials. Post WW1 they resumed production of their civilian products, until the 1930’s again brought along the demand for military hardware. Their production increased until they in 1939 were the largest “war effort company” in Germany, which they remained until the end of the Reich. The HASAG company manufactured belt drums and belt drum holders for MG34 & 42, Panzerfausts, Panzerschrecks and ammunition components. The production line once again changed to civilian products after the end of the war. In 1947 all machinery and useful assets were removed to the Soviet Union and the buildings were blown up.

The shaft of the grenade is stamped bdp. 1943, for Friedrich Maurer Söhne, Eisenwerk und Kesselschmiede, München-Freimann. The code was followed by a punctuation to avoid confusion if it was turned upside down. The code used on the handle was stamped the opposite way of most other makers, running bottom-up. This makes the first letter fall on the curved area, almost always weakly impressed. In addition the WaA was placed between the code and the year on the 43 and 44 dated handles, unlike all other makers.

Founded in 1876 by Friedrich Maurer in Munich they initially manufactured steel constructions like bridges, hangars and steel doors. The company is still in operation, manufacturing, among other things, roller coasters.

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 M244.

This is a fantastic example of a wartime manufactured M24 stick grenade, fully inert and ready to display.