Panzerfaust Question

[sturmbannfuhrer]

Hello my friends, i usually can be found in the headgear forum but have strayed into this area due to buying a Panzerfaust in semi relic condition. The warhead looks inert, bottom is open, but a friend of mine was concerned with the launch tube. After managing to activate the sighting mechanism, we noticed that about 6 inches inside the tube, directly under the firing mechanism, the tube is filled. IS this the propellant for the warhead, or has someone just plugged it up. The leading face of the material is very smooth and shiny just like a fresh tin of boot polish.

Many thanks in advance. I am restoring it only by using a anti rust material called KRUST from the hammerite company, it stops oxidisation and is leaving the traces of tan original paint. There is a fair bit of the original paint near the sighting and firing mechanism that i will not be krusting. I will post before and after pics when complete. This will NOT be repainted... I like it how it is, just concerned if the tube is dangerous.

J T

[Gran Sasso]

IS this the propellant for the warhead, or has someone just plugged it up.

It is, be carefull!

[reidmuller]

the origional black powder propellant charge was packed into a waxed cardboard tube a bit like the middle of a bog roll with a cap on each end
best thing to do is undo the screw on the bottom of the tube (if its directly below the trigger it is a 60M if its more or less halfway down the tube it is a 100M) get a wooden dowl and try and push what ever is in there out if not try something sharp prefrably something non metallic and peirce it and see if there is any powder inside
as for the war head you will notice the weight and if you take the fin shaft off and look down the neck with a tourch you will see a yellowish solid mass
hope this helps

[sturmbannfuhrer]

thanks guys, trust me to buy one of the tubes with the juice still in it. A Polish guy sold it to one of my colleagues at the YATE show here in the UK... I bought a ground dug MP38 magazine still attached to the housing a while back and that has live rounds in it too. I must stop doing buying these things..... The warhead looks inert though...

cheers J T

[jiipee76]

There is atleast one seller in Egun also who sells items which are more than suspicious.

Gotta be careful with these items.Buyer should always demand that seller shows items are really empty.

[sturmbannfuhrer]

here's some pics of my Faust a 60 I think.. This is the length ways shot.. There is a nice bit of original tan paint in various sites over the tubing, the krust material brings it out with a nice shine..

[sturmbannfuhrer]

Here is the propellant in the tube.............

[sturmbannfuhrer]

and a view of the other end

[timdp]

Here is the propellant in the tube.............

What you are looking at here (including the cup at the end of the tube and metal in the bottom) is the bottom half of the projectile. Mine looks the same after taking the main warhead out. The fins wrap around the outside of this piece. The launch charge would be under this piece.

Were it mine, I would fill the other end of the tube with water and then go into the other end with a long wood dowel carved a bit like a drill bit to try to remove launch charge residue. Once you have removed everything you can and are hitting the bottom of the metal piece. Then you can think about trying to remove lower half of the projectile, although it might be tough with that much rust.

Be careful!

Tim

PS looking into the warhead you should be able to see the shaped charge cone if the explosive has been removed.

[jiipee76]

Yes,you have wings section of the warhead inside tube.

I have color cutout diagram of whole weapon if you need help out figuring the system.

[sturmbannfuhrer]

ohh my, what i have bought!!! thanks for the info guys, i'm going to put this as far away from my house as possible...

I would like to see that cut away pic please so i can see what i'm dealing with.

Many thanks J T

[Simon O.]

customs were on the ball then when they came into the country

[jiipee76]

You can easily tell,if driving charge is still inside the tube.

Measure inner tube distance from tube end towards firing mechanism.

If you can gently push measure tape(or wooden stick) inside tube 40-50cm,then there is no driving charge inside.

Be careful,while measuring.Dont look inside from the tube end while measuring.