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This is a lovely find from the battlefield which is a German model 1917 egg grenade it is in very nice semi- relic condition it is only very lightly pitted in places but very solid not braking up or falling apart. The grenade which is empty and inert and comes complete with its fuse that does screw in and out easily It is in lovely condition but has no maker marking on the bottom this is normally a very late war make properly 1918 it is very solid it has been nicely cleaned with only some light surface rust in places and has a lot of its original black paintwork it has been very well cleaned and is perfect for display or any collection and very rare to find from the battlefield in this good a condition. The grenade was recovered on or around the battlefield at Passchendaele from the 1917 battle part of the third battle of Ypres. A very nice and rare find from the famous Ypres battlefield on the western front in Belgium.This grenade comes with A5 laminated information card.
The 'egg' grenade ('Eierhandgranate') appeared in the beginning of 1917, as a complement to the othe reglementary grenades that were either too heavy (Kugelhandgranate) or too cumersome (Stielhandgranate) for the assault sections. The small size steel cast body (6 cm long, 4.6 cm diameter), took the shape of an egg, therefore giving this grenade its nickname.
Initially entirely smooth, the body was modified in 1917 to receive a fragmented belt ('Eierhandgranate Neuer Art' - n/A) to improve its handling. Its size and weight allowed a long range hand launching (up to 50 meters) and as easy transportation in big quantities, even in the battledresses pockets.