1915 Era Early WWI Imperial German Racquet Grenade

Inert - Early WWI improvised German grenade consists of a 6" x 3-1/2" x 3" field gray finished tinned iron warhead, base with time fuze complete with pull-safety, and mounted on 15-1/2" wooden racquet handle.  The French, German, and British all used field-made variations on this theme early in the war before more sofisticated munitions were available in adequate supply, but this one most closely resembles the German racquet grenade illustrated in Delhomme's reference Les Grenades Allemandes De La Grande Guerre.  This particular example was found in a barn in central Kentucky sometime before 2004 when it was originally consigned to Advance Guard Militaria by our dear departed friend Matt Johnson.  Our customer who purchased it at that time is now the one offering it (and much of his collection) for sale through Bannerman.  So how did such an early German grenade in such outstanding condition get to the U.S.?  We can only speculate, but it is possible that it was a doughboy souvenir, or more likely part of a selection of captured German ordnance that was rendered inert and brought to the U.S. for training in 1917.  A finer example of this grenade will not be found in any museum or collection.  An exceptional example of a very rare piece of ordnance. $1500 - $2000