Chris Boonzaier

Thanks Guys, Nope wound badge, just a blemish. I was pretty happy with the photo, I only realised it was marine when it arrived :-)

Hi, would these guys have been Marine or Matrosen infantry? I am guessing from the EK1s and the 1918 date on the card that they were on the Western front.

The Beards would have been dropped when Gasmasks were introduced, but this is 1914.... Quite the selection of facial hair!!!

Hi, a friend just bought this... Is it Africakorps or something "else" ? Any ideas? Thanks Chris

Hi, unfortunately the only sign I see is the probable "1" on the shoulder of the guy on the left? Does this look like Jäger?

Hi, would this be Seebataillon or Marine Infantry?

I just picked this up, it is a Generic Jäger postcard that someone turned into a 14th Jäger card.

Hi, here are 2 bars to NCOs from the 12th Bavarian Infantry Regt.... the top one has an unusual way of mounting his goodies!!!!

Hi, I can quite believe it, most of us at some time have tripped up badly at some stage. The advantage of a collecting community is the chance to discuss items, if possible before you buy, or as soon as possible afterwards. Dont give up hope, maybe the dealer does the right thing....

Hi Glenn, thanks for looking! Best Chris

Hi, does anyone have the book that covers all the Jäger battalions? If so, it would really help me if someone could post the pages for the garde Jäger Battalion from mid late 1916 until Mid 1917 :-) Thanks :-) Chris

Hi, I guess the first step is to provide proof that the Item is bad. Often there are divided camps.... one guy knows its bad because "some guy on the internet told him" and the dealer knows its good because "he knows a whole lot".... the question is who convinces who... Then, unless you hve a written gaurantee... he probably does not have to do anything. Depending on who the dealer is and how much of a good/bad guy he is, your only satisfaction may be the "Name and shame" thing, leaving readers to take note of what happened and how the dealer responded. Best Chris

Hi, the lid insert is a good sign, whenever I see one by radar goes on ;-)

Hi, DUH, i missed the Litzen! I will try to get a better shot. It looks like a dark board with lighter piping but no number or device on it.

Oh wow..... I would get that at any price possible!!! From his age I think it unlikely he served long enough to get one? In fact, because of his age, maybe he just liked dressing up and did not serve in the German army? OK, he took part in the Jameson raid in 1895 as a simple 20 year old trooper. If he was a student, where would he have had tme to fit the German military service in? Jameson would have been crying for leadership people... why would an ex officer not even have had NCO rank and only been a trooper? No way he would have had a German award looking anything like that. I am guessing a young student who joined the Jameson raid as a simple trooper. I am going to go for this either being Burnside in fancy dress, or it not being him ?

Off course not all Garde Pionier had something to do with flamethrowers, but am i right in assuming this guy is a Garde Pionier? I see nothing on his shoulder boards....

That made me scratch my head for a sec as well.

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Urkunde-Besitzzeugnis-EK-1-Eisernes-Kreuz-1-Klasse-kaiserliche-Schutztruppe/222004783548?_trksid=p2060778.c100276.m3476&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140725133650%26meid%3D7b8521062a194b9a99ea3e6ca83ceb80%26pid%3D100276%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D321982859325

I had a statue with exactly the same base and plaque for writing, only difference was the firure was for a railway pionier. They were quality gifts at the time.

Nice pic indeed!!

http://www.ebay.de/itm/kleines-seltenes-Etui-fur-EK2-Eisernes-Kreuz-Iron-Cross-Kriegsorden-von-Opa/281911879468?_trksid=p2045573.c100034.m2102&_trkparms=aid%3D555012%26algo%3DPW.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D20140107091039%26meid%3D1fa3820e28474590a0ee8c1a43782cdd%26pid%3D100034%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D8%26sd%3D151958698865

Hi, muchos Grazias, that is perfect. I love pics with bars without the Ehrenkreuz ;-)

Hi, is this police, Forestry? Any ideas? Thanks Chris

Hi, I finally had a look in daylight, and tried a small section with my new antique wax.... an immediate problem became apparent.... the nails are of different qualities, and I assume because of war shortages some have very thin heads... rust can eat them away rather fast. A rust inhibitor will be essential, that brings it back to Owatrol oil. The classic Owatrol Oil is a "creeping" oil that can be used on wood and metal. It binds and stops rust, is see-through and does not leave a hard coat. I will try it on a small area.

Very nice! All th ebest Chris