H55953 M39 SMOKE GRENADE. (Nebelhandgranate 39) 

BACKGROUND: The high explosive, concussion, M24 stick hand grenade was a modification of the WWI German M1915 stick grenade and was to become the most common grenade used by Germany during WWII. Modifications of the M24 grenade resulted in the longer M39 grenade in 1939 and the M43 grenade with a different fuse insertion configuration in 1943. Another grenade based on a WWI pattern and introduced in 1939 was the M39 stick smoke grenade that was utilized to blind enemy observers and conceal German activity. The M39 stick smoke grenade was basically identical to the M24 concussion stick grenade which resulted in the M39 being given distinctive markings so as not to be mistakenly used as a concussion grenade. The M39 grenade also replaced the detonator as used on the M24 with a seven second delay igniter which activated the internal chemicals resulting in creating a smoke screen which was released from holes drilled on the bottom edge of the head. The smoke would emanate from the grenade for up to two minutes. Of Note: The first M39 stick grenades were distinguished by painting a white stripe on the handle and white script on the head but the markings were found insufficient and a later pattern with grooves in the handle was developed for easier recognition. 

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Roughly, 14" tall, later pattern, M39 stick smoke grenade with a roughly, 3" tall, 2 3/8" diameter, sheet metal construction head and a roughly 11" tall, 1 3/8" diameter, lathed, subtly contoured, natural wood handle with sheet metal fittings to both its top and bottom ends. The top end of the handle has a screw threaded sheet metal fitting secured by four small dome headed screws. The top fitting was designed to screw into the bottom of the sheet metal grenade head. The bottom of the wooden handle has a removable, screw threaded sheet metal cap with a corresponding screw threaded sheet metal receiver held in place by four small inward crimped depressions. The bottom receiver has come loose from the handle and is held in place by post-war applied scotch tape. The bottom screw cap and receiver both show light surface spotting. The hollowed out wooden handle would have originally housed the igniter and pull cord with a porcelain pull bead. The porcelain bead is included. The handle has dual contoured identification grooves near the bottom end and a roughly 1" wide, white painted, horizontal identification stripe near the middle with the paint being retained about 75%. The handle is well marked with the impressed manufacturers code and date that appears to be, "ftd 1941", indicating manufacture by Peter Schlesinger Metallwarenfabrik Offenbach in 1941. The sheet metal head retains about 65% of its original field-grey paint with small spots of wear to the base metal with moderate surface spotting and pitting resulting in a few small puncture holes. The sides of the grenade head have faint, white stenciled script, "Nb. Hgr 39" indicating, Nebel Handgranate 39, (Smoke Hand grenade 39), and four faint, white, horizontal identification stripes with fine diagonal lines. The sides of the grenade head also have other illegible white stenciled markings. The top edge of the grenade head has a faint impressed waffen-amt stamp and matching manufacturers code and date as on the handle, "ftd 1941". The bottom edge of the grenade head has eight, evenly spaced, holes to release the smoke.

To Order this item, please use one of the two e-mail addresses below to contact us. Please make sure to quote the item number in your e-mail

-E-Mail Address pawmac@nbnet.nb.ca  Or  guild@nb.aibn.com

To return to the main page please CLICK below