Original German WWII 1941-Dated Nb-Hgr 39 Inert Smoke Stick Grenade by Richard Rinker

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice example of an extremely rare NB.Hgr.39 or Nebelhandgranate 1939 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 on both the head and shaft of the grenade. Like all deactivated ordnance, this grenade is Not Available For Export.

In 1939 the Stielhandgranate design was modified to create the Nebelhandgranate "smoke hand grenade". Smoke was used for masking protection from enemy fire and signaling. There were two variants, the Nb.Hgr.39 and the Nb.Hgr.39b. The "b" version differs in that the handle has raised ridges and an additional white band to aid in identification at night, and quickly replaced the original version. The Nb.39 pot contained a mixture of zinc powder and hexachlorethane which produced a smoke cloud upon ignition. Holes in the bottom of the head provided an escape path for the smoke as it burned.

The warhead bears original paint including white paint that reads Nb. Hgr. 39 and code 210.41. The head has correct white paint bands for easy identification that it is a smoke grenade and not a traditional M1924 version. The head also has the correct ventilation holes on the underside. This example has heavy oxidation and paint loss on the head. The top of the head has a maker’s mark, 41 brb, denoting 1941 manufacture by Richard Rinker GmbH, Menden, Kreis Iserlohn. Richard Rinker GmbH was founded in 1910, and was situated in Menden in Iserlohn. It specialized in the production of castings, especially of building hardware made of brass. In the mid-1930s the production was switched to light metals. They were still in production in 1991, manufacturing heaters under the name BAUFA-Werke Richard Rinker GMBH.

The shaft is marked CSW, for a maker we could not identify. The end cap is present and unscrews, but it is extremely oxidized with material loss as shown. The original porcelain bead and cord are still inside, however!

This is a very worn grenade, but will still serve well as a representative example for display!

In WWII 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, making this an excellent opportunity to acquire one to complete a WW2 ordnance collection.