Original German WWII Training Nb-Hgr 39b Inert Smoke Stick Grenade by Richard Rinker - Date 1939 & 1940

Original Item: Only One Available. This is an rare excellent example of a practice training NB.Hgr.39 or Nebelhandgranate 1939 German Stick Grenade. This is the first smoke grenade handle we have seen with a trainer head. This 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.

This example has the head off of a training grenade, which still unscrews. The side of the head bears the marking ЯR / 1939 for manufacture by Richard Rinker G.m.b.H. in Menden/Iserlohn, the original designer of the M24 grenade. The shaft of th grenade is stamped ЯR 517 1940 which also denotes manufacture by Richard Rinker G.m.b.H. in Menden/Iserlohn, the original designer of the M24 grenade. This company had many factories and subcontractors, and the identity of contractor "517" is one we have not been able to identify. This was all done to obscure the location of the makers.

The grenade does not have a cap, and it is also missing the mount for the cap. The white stripe denoting smoke grenade is still retained.

A lovely example, just missing the end cap. Ready for further research and display.