Model of 1917 German egg grenade

[dano1917]

The m1917 German egg grenade was introduced very early in 1917 as a lighter replacement for the cumbersome kugels and an alternative to the larger stick grenades. About the size of a large egg. fifteen could be easily carried at a time and the thrower was in no danger in getting hit by fragments at 50 meters. Aside from the stick grenade the egg is probably the most recognizable German grenade of WW1. Total loaded weight was 318 grams. Shortly after the eggs inception a center ring was added to the body to insure a better grip to prevent slippage while igniter cord was being extracted. The "banded" egg wad designated m1917n/A. 6 different igniters were utilized on the egg including the instant booby trap igniter (Bass)...........Dano

 

[navyman]

Hello Dano and all,
Could you describe, preferably with pics or drawings, how these various egg ignighters worked? Were they simply improvements or made for specific applications. I imagine the booby trap version was simply instantaneous but what were the others for?
Cheers,
navyman.

 

[Millsman]

Navyman

I don't think I've ever seen a diagram of how the igniters worked but they were friction devices so the wire pull was I think coated with a rough surface that rubbed against a combustible substance. A bit like striking a match. This set off a 4-5 second powder trail in the body leading to the black powder filling in the egg. The eggs started off with the heavy brass igniter as used in the early kugals but then a lighter type was introduced. Other types were made in Austria I believe. The booby trap type of igniter was simply a cannon igniter used in another context.

John