A Very Good German WW1 1915 Discus Grenade, Discushandgranate An Improved 1913 Type

All plungers and heads present

The 1915 discus grenade functioned exactly the same as the first 1913 type but with a pressed instead of cast body.
Its body was made of pressed steel of about 1mm thick.
The fuze assembly was made of an alloy with 4 brass end screws. Throwing the discus in a rotating way, the plungers were driven outwards by the centrifugal force. This was its safety during flight. Striker pins are uncovered as the safety pin falls out during flight. On impact, in theory, one, or possibly two plungers (with primer), would drive itself onto one of the four striker pins.
Unfortunately for the German combatants in practice, when thrown as it was designed, horizontally like a discus, the pins often did not come in contact with anything, and it failed to detonate at the Tommy’s feet. Subsequently, the joyful Tommy would then pick it up; happily return it to sender {the German} by throwing it the wrong way, vertically, whereupon it would explode. Probably, much to the German's annoyance

Inert, empty and safe. Not available for export. UK mainland collectors only

Code: 26230