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Goodies . . .

I think for the answer member Grenadier would be the man to ask.
I just had a look at my K marked grenade and its marked K 4 8/40 August 1940 production by Richard Rinker and Miguel it looks like you have one marked DO ? So I guess yours will be Donarite baised with a higher percentage of TNT mixed in , Mine possiably denotes filling no4 being TNT.
As I said Im only speculating at this point and if we can get something definate it would be great.

Theres some info here on compositions of fillings at this link

http://www.freilassung.de/div/texte/spreng/lexikon.htm


It would be great to be able to unlock the secrets of the markings !
Who else has a K marked grenade with different coding?

Best Regards

Andrew MG34NZ
 
Hi Andrew:
Mine is marked Do 12/1943. I have another one Marked K sy? 1/1943. And several Do etc without the K. But I think that the key is on the type of grease used, no matter if the explosive charge is frozen, it will explode anyway. Im not an expert in explosives, of course, Im just an electrician, but it is my idea.
 
+++

Similar question here:
http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=282066&highlight=Donarit
As for the "K" marking, Germans marked some ammunitions with "arkt" too when it was intended for use in cold climates. I'm not sure about the grease; it could also denote some more reliable insulation of the charge.
PS: Inbetween amonium nitrate undergoes crystalline transformation at -16.8 deg.C. Under this temperature the volume of the amonium nitrate increases +2.9%; this could be the reason of substitution with other nitrate.
 
Last edited:
PS: Inbetween amonium nitrate undergoes crystalline transformation at -16.8 deg.C. Under this temperature the volume of the amonium nitrate increases +2.9%; this could be the reason of substitution with other nitrate.[/quote]

Just for curiosity as seems you are an expert: a totally frozen explosive charge can explode as if it was in nornal condition?
 
Grenademan28 said:
Just for curiosity as seems you are an expert: a totally frozen explosive charge can explode as if it was in nornal condition?
Click to expand...
Hi,
By my opinion yes, but when the charges are exposed to change of temperatures (change of air's volume inside, reinforced by the change in volume of explosive under/over -16,8 deg.C), air would get into the bodies and that way moisture with it too. But moisture+amoniumnitrate explosives= bad or no detonation after some percentage of water in the explosive mixture. So I think "K" is designation for better insulated charge, or charge without amonium nitrate as component
 
Excellent information Grenader, thank you for taking the time to contribute :top:

Andrew MG34NZ
 
Would like to add that Donarit which was a typical filling of German hand grenades contains Nitroglycerine in the mixture of components. Dynamite contains Nitroglycerine as well and frozen Dynamite is extremely sensitive to explode from minor disturbances.:heeeelllllooooo:
 
M39 egg grenade frag-sleeve

Hi Ron,

nicest items you've got there ! Congratulations !
The best is your ultra-rare frag-sleeve for the M39 egg-handgrenade.
Where did you find this nice specimen with original color !
Amazing.
Mine are (only) ground dug.........
Already quite happy to have some in this shape.

CSch
 

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CafSchumann said:
Hi Ron,

nicest items you've got there ! Congratulations !
The best is your ultra-rare frag-sleeve for the M39 egg-handgrenade.
Where did you find this nice specimen with original color !
Amazing.
Mine are (only) ground dug.........
Already quite happy to have some in this shape.

CSch
Click to expand...

To my knowledge, there only 5-1/2 M39 splittering in USA
collections and I got mine about eight(8) years ago from a collector that had two(2). I feel very lucky to have one in such pristine condition. They are rare and my guess is they are very late war issue . . .
 
To: MG34NZ, Time35, Grenardier & Granademan28

Re: 'K' marked StHdGr 24

I've checked the markings on some of the grenades in my full case
and found although some have very similar codes, not all have the large 'K' mark. Here's some some typical markings:

K syn Do6/1943
K syn Do7/194X(can't read last number)
syn Do10/1942
syn Do11/1943

Interesting discussion on the possible technical aspects and significance of these markings . . .
 
ronberkeley said:
To: MG34NZ, Time35, Grenardier & Granademan28

Re: 'K' marked StHdGr 24

I've checked the markings on some of the grenades in my full case
and found although some have very similar codes, not all have the large 'K' mark. Here's some some typical markings:

K syn Do6/1943
K syn Do7/194X(can't read last number)
syn Do10/1942
syn Do11/1943

Interesting discussion on the possible technical aspects and significance of these markings . . .
Click to expand...

Hey:
Very interesting. I have a K syn marked pot too. Complet stickgrenade gzo 1942 matching can and pot originally found at Leningrad, today San Petersburg. What is the syn? Another composition? Grenadier.... :questionmark:
 
Grenademan28 said:
Hey:
Very interesting. I have a K syn marked pot too. Complet stickgrenade gzo 1942 matching can and pot originally found at Leningrad, today San Petersburg. What is the syn? Another composition? Grenadier.... :questionmark:
Click to expand...
Miguel:

My first thought was syn was a manufacturer's code and it may be, but I could find no listing for it in the cope books.
 
ronberkeley said:
To my knowledge, there only 5-1/2 M39 splittering in USA
collections and I got mine about eight(8) years ago from a collector that had two(2). I feel very lucky to have one in such pristine condition. They are rare and my guess is they are very late war issue . . .
Click to expand...


Ron,

Yes, and sometimes I wish I still had two of them!

You mention knowing of a half of a frag sleeve in the U.S. What state might that one be in? I was in Arizona last month visiting a friend and discovered an egg grenade with half of a sleeve in his collection. I was especially surprised to see it as I know of another grenade and partial frag sleeve just like it about 150 miles away in another Arizona collection.

Here's the one observed last month:

PICT0335.jpg


And the other one photographed last year. Those are actually two different items although you would swear it is the same one in both photos. Like twins!

PICT0543.jpg


By the way, it's always nice to see the photos of that case of stick grenades. Just beautiful.

Rick
 
Thats not SPIDER WEBS on those grenades is it !!!!!
The shame of it!:tinysmile_angry2_t:
Paul.




ordnance said:
Ron,

Yes, and sometimes I wish I still had two of them!

You mention knowing of a half of a frag sleeve in the U.S. What state might that one be in? I was in Arizona last month visiting a friend and discovered an egg grenade with half of a sleeve in his collection. I was especially surprised to see it as I know of another grenade and partial frag sleeve just like it about 150 miles away in another Arizona collection.

Here's the one observed last month:

PICT0335.jpg


And the other one photographed last year. Those are actually two different items although you would swear it is the same one in both photos. Like twins!

PICT0543.jpg


By the way, it's always nice to see the photos of that case of stick grenades. Just beautiful.

Rick
Click to expand...
 
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