Gr B 39

[speiss 2002]

This is a new addition to the collection.I would love to find a PZB 39 to complement it.

[Johnnie]

Looks to be in good shape too! Is it live or deact?

Johnnie

[Grutte Pier]

This is a new addition to the collection.I would love to find a PZB 39 to complement it.

Beautiful and rare item, thanks for sharing. Does somebody know if they still used them after they got obsolete?, I think they could still be of use for lighter armed vehicles like for example the bren carrier and trucks, did they still use them in 1944/1945?.

[speiss 2002]

Strangely enough it has been de-activated,though under NZ law I can and will bring it back to operational status...easier said than done of course.The barrel has been drilled infrom underneath at the chamber,which will take an armourer friend of mine some ingenuity to fix,but she will (hopefully) operate on a 13mm/7.92 blank case we are also working on.
It would be a real joy to find out more of the operational history of these.I wonder how many of the 25,000 odd PzB 39's were modified thus.It is a very clumsy weapon to carry about.Imagine haveing to carry it along with both grenade projectiles and the grenade blanks.A vehicle mount would be less of a hindrance but how useful?

[Johnnie]

I suspect it was a case of adapting anything they could to AT mode as Allied tanks, especiall Russian, became harder to kill. These, the grenade launching PAK-37, even grenade launching flare pistols. Desperation is indeed the mother of invention. I do understand that some of the original versions were given to allies such as the Italians and perhaps Romanians.

Johnnie

[copdoc]

Beautiful, Hope you get it shooting again. Are you going to make a chamber/barrel insert? If so and you use 7.62mm you can use standard grenade blanks, just decrease the range a bit.

I have wondered how effective they were. Anyone know a WWII German/Italian/Romanian vet to ask about their actual use?

[speiss 2002]

A chamber insert is looking more likely .I hadn't thought about 7.62 but there's an idea!

[speiss 2002]

The Pistol grip has a hinge joint about level with the trigger guard.When pushed forward and down,this opens the breech.Because the grenade had such a high trajectory additions to the bipod legs were spot welded on,and for added strength a couple of half round struts were also welded inside the stock arms.So now the stock can only be folded to about 5-oclock.

[Peter S]

The second round from the bottom is the grenade launcher round for your toy.

[Bill Grist]

A chamber insert is looking more likely .I hadn't thought about 7.62 but there's an idea!

It would have to be a 7.92 cal. insert.. I have one with my PzB39...BILL