Original Item: Only One Available. Very Rare original WWI Italian S.I.P.E. Fragmentation Hand Grenade taken as a souvenir by an Austro-Hungarian Soldier from the legendary battlefields of the Italian Alps. The grenade is mounted on a display base with a copper plaque applied which translates to “Watch on the Tonale 1916”. The Passo Tonale was the scene of extended combat during the “White War” that transpired in the Italian Alps between the Italians and Austro Hungarians. This is the only example of this grenade that we have ever encountered, and an excellent specimen to boot!

Of the few passes across the old Austro-Italian border, Passo Tonale at 1883 meters (6157 feet) is considered the great western approach into the Trentino, or from an Austrian point of view, into the lowlands of north central Italy. The only other international crossing is the Passo Stelvio/Stilfer Joch at 2760 meters (9025 feet). With its snowbound slopes and endless switchbacks, Stelvio also borders Switzerland, an invitation to further troubles in an already complex war. Beyond Tonale and Stelvio, at best, in mid-summer, are a few saddles with stable ice and snow or rocky goat trails.

The strategic value of Passo Tonale is greatly magnified when the terrain on each side is considered, the highest peaks of the Great War's entire Alpine front. The mighty Ortler range to the north rises as high as 3905 meters (12,770 feet). To the south are the Adamello and Presanella ranges with similar peaks and vast glaciers. In 1915 the summer meadows of Passo Tonale were no man's land. The surrounding ridges and summits would have to be occupied, observation posts and defenses manned- in all seasons. The warfare to control these ranges is legendary.

The S.I.P.E. Grenade was an externally segmented, cast iron body filled with black powder and had a safety fuse that was lit with a match. It is interesting to note that the safety cap is threaded in the opposite direction so that the fuse housing would not be accidentally screwed out when the safety cap was removed. Because of this, the Italian troops often referred to these grenades as ‘bomba a manno a sfregamento’, or literally, ‘rubbing hand grenade’. S.I.P.E. stands for la Societa Italiana Prodotti Esplondenti, or the Italian Society of Explosive Products.

The fuse, once the safety cap was removed, operated exactly like a match striking the igniter strip on the side of a matchbox. The exposed end of the fuse, coated with a phosphorous paste, much like a match, needed to be rubbed* along an igniter strip, and by the looks of the small inset diagram, a matchbox really would suffice, although I suspect in reality these were small bespoke boxes that could be attached to finger or wrist – and, again much like a match, a naked flame would do the job equally well. Either way would ignite the fuse and begin the seven or eight second delay before the detonator at the other end of the fuse inside the grenade exploded, followed by the charge.
The grenade we are offering is in excellent condition, as it was recovered from the battlefield during the period and sent home by an Austro-Hungarian soldier as a souvenir, and therefore not a ground-dug specimen. It is complete with fuze assembly (which cannot be unscrewed). The Grenade is mounted to a heavy steel base, attached via a single slot screw. Affixed to the front of the base is a copper plaque which has engraved “Tonalewacht 1916”.

A perfect piece of rare Italian WWI ordnance with unquestionable provenance as to where and by whom it was originally obtained! Ready for display!

Totally inert and demilitarized according to BATF guidelines with hollow body and inert fuse. This grenade cannot be converted to an explosive device and is not available for export.