Fall 2026 Militaria and Aviation Auction
Lot 117:
Description
WWII German Uebungs-Stielhandgranate 24 – Perforated Practice-Head Training Stick Grenade with Original Turned Wooden Handle Offered here is an original World War II German Uebungs-Stielhandgranate 24, the reusable practice variant of the ubiquitous Model 1924 stick grenade familiar to collectors as the "potato masher." No individual soldier’s provenance accompanies this example, and no legible maker code or dated ordnance stamp is confirmed from the photographs; its history rests in its construction and markings as a documented training tool rather than in a personal citation or biography. The M24 stick grenade, adopted in 1924 and produced in the tens of millions through the war, became the signature hand grenade of the German Army in every theater of operations, from the Polish campaign through the Eastern Front and Normandy. Training establishments required a safe, reusable means of drilling recruits in the throwing motion, fuze-pull sequence, and timing before live ordnance was issued. The pierced sheet-metal canister on this example allowed a low-power spotting or smoke charge (Uebungsladung) to vent through the perforations and simulate detonation without destroying the head, permitting repeated use across countless training exercises. Because these devices were built for reuse rather than single detonation, and because they were produced in far smaller numbers than combat-pattern grenades, surviving examples with intact perforated canisters and original handles are considerably scarcer on today’s market. The grenade presents in honest, service-used condition. The pierced metal canister retains dark oxidation and an even surface patina consistent with age and handling, with the gas-escape vent holes intact and unobstructed. The turned wooden handle remains attached, showing expected surface drying, small dings, and handling wear typical of field-issued training equipment, and the bottom end-cap assembly is present. No additional accessories, cases, or paperwork accompany this lot; the grenade is offered as the sole item pictured. The condition of any internal components has not been verified, and this lot should be handled and shipped in accordance with applicable regulations governing ordnance-related material. Overall the piece presents in good, stable, display-ready condition for its age and type. A scarce, honestly worn survivor of Wehrmacht ordnance training – a tactile link to the recruits drilled with it before they carried the M24 into every campaign of the war.
Share this lot:
