Original German WWII M24 Stick Grenade Dated 1942 by Vossloh-Werke GmbH Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is an extremely rare M1924, M24, or “Stielhandgranate 24” German Stick Grenade, often called a “potato masher”. This example has been demilitarized according to specifications by the BATF. The warhead still unscrews. It still retains its original paint, and the original markings can be seen on the head and shaft of the grenade.

The front of the war head still has most of the white stenciled writing that usually reads Vor Gebrauch Sprengkapsel Einsetzen (Before use insert detonator). It is also ink stamped. The head has some rust issues, but the paint is mostly intact, with some of the red primer coat showing. Also visible are traces of a maker marking and the date 1939.

The wood shaft of the grenade is marked  42 flf. This code corresponds to Vossloh-Werke GmbH, at Werdohl in Westfalen, a maker of explosives such as the “sticky bomb”. The shaft is in very good condition, with no cracks or dents. The lower screw cap is in great and unscrews perfectly, and still has the spring inside to propel it away once loose. This grenade also still has the ceramic ball and string pull cord inside, which is something we do not see often at all.

In WW2 the stick of the German M24 (Model 24) grenade provided a lever, significantly improving the throwing distance. The Model 24 could be thrown approximately 30 to 40 yards, whereas the British Mills bomb could only be thrown about 15 yards. The design also minimized the risk of the grenade rolling downhill back towards the thrower when used in hilly terrain or in urban areas. These grenades were extremely useful for clearing out entrenched infantry positions.

As grenades were disposable, encountering them on the market is very rare, especially with the original pull string and weight, making this an excellent opportunity to acquire one to complete a WW2 ordnance collection.