Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice example of an Imperial German WWI Karabingranate (Carbine Grenade) M 1914, which are extremely hard to find. As with most seen, this one is missing both the base cup "saucer" and the long rod that fits down the bore. They were much easier to bring back after the war without the rod, which is why most examples are found when them missing.

Of all steel construction with a zinc or brass fuze, these were launched using a special wood tipped cartridge that could effectively lob a grenade from one trench across No-Mans Land into the Trenches of the enemy. The iron body is a standard fragmentation pattern, and upon detonation would break into fragments inflicting terrible injury.

Still in very good condition and fully INERT this rare German WW1 Rifle Grenade is ready to display!

History of the German WW1 Karabingranate M1914

The Karabingranate M 1914 was the successor to the M1913, and was designed specifically to overcome to shortcomings of the 1913. The main problem with the model 1913 that it was very aerodynamic, making it too effective a projectile, which caused it to sink too far into the ground on impact to be very effective. Developments led to the birth of a less aerodynamic and more massive grenade that would limit the penetration in the ground at impact, the rifle grenade M 1914 .

This variation was made keeping constant the total weight to keep the firing table unchanged, and therefore admitting a small reduction of the explosive charge. An optional steel cupola could be added at the base of the body to reduce the range, depending the way it was mounted (25% or 50%).

The ignition system was completely different from the one of the 1913 model. Entirely confined into the brass piece screwed at the top of the projectile, it was this time a real percussion fuse with inertia arming system (inertia block and springs). At the departure (and after the safety pin had been removed), inertia force pushed back a ring, unmasking the percussion pin. From the outside, this 'armed' condition was recognized by the elevated position of the fuse head, which also gave it a more effective detonation force.

Another advancement was that the detonator was now inserted inside a high explosive relay-charge, itself included into the body explosive load. This characteristic provided that grenade an internal organization surprisingly similar to some artillery shells used in WWI.

Despite these improvements, none of the 1913 or 1914 rod grenades went 'popular' within German infantrymen, the need of changing the rifle ammunition to blank type to use them being a frequent source of fatal accidents.