buellmeister

Deruelle, I look forward to seeing them. Regards, Joel

Derulle, I want to thank you for including pictures from your collection. You've got some great shots of casual Trench life when the bombs and bullets fell silent. Regards, Joel

Thank you for sharing your in-Law's Family History. Quite Interesting I may add. Regards, Joel

Kevin, No Doubt. I would think such a circumstance would constitute as being Rare. Regards, Joel

Gents, Thought this article was rather interesting. Regards, Joel A historic find frustrates Nahant WWI gun in attic is no boon, so far By Matt Viser, Globe Staff | April 24, 2007 Sergeant Alvin York's against-all-odds capture of a heavily fortified German machine gun nest in the Argonne Forest of France 89 years ago made York an American legend. With seven other American infantrymen, he took 132 German prisoners and silenced German machine guns that had slaughtered Allied troops. His actions earned the humble Tennessee farmer an iconic status alongside Daniel Boone and a title declaring him the greatest American hero of World War I. He was held up as the very embodiment of humility and courage. Which is why officials at Nahant's public library were thrilled four years ago to discover what they say is one of the captured German machine guns in the library attic. "I tripped over the gun one day, not knowing what it was," said Daniel deStefano, the library's director. "I picked up what I thought was a pipe. It was the barrel of the gun." Library officials say they researched markings on the gun and searched local newspaper archives and town documents for answers about the weapon's origin, determining that the gun had been given to the town in 1918 by an Army clerk, Nahant native Mayland Lewis. According to the research, Lewis had plucked the weapon from a pile given up by surrendering Germans and shipped it home. Briefly prized as a souvenir of the war, it was paraded through the town on Armistice Day in 1919 by Boy Scouts who towed it in a red wagon. But over the years it faded from public view. Its rediscovery stoked dreams of a big windfall for the library, where officials had been pondering ways to finance an expansion of the cramped facility and an upgrade of an antiquated cataloging system. Library officials said they contacted several auctioneers in New England who estimated the weapon's value at $100,000 and perhaps several times more than that. But the dreams didn't last long. Library officials soon learned that the gun is illegal and that they can do very little with it. Federal gun laws prohibit possession or sale of automatic guns unless they are registered with the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. In the library attic for years, the German machine gun was never registered. The library isn't allowed to register the gun now because federal law prohibits new registrations on automatic weapons, except in rare circumstances. Since it is illegal for the library even to have the gun, Nahant police took it and stored it under lock and key in an evidence locker, forestalling seizure by the ATF. "We cannot hold onto this weapon," deStefano said. "If we kept it on the premises, they were going to come and get it, and they were going to destroy it. This is a piece of history. We're kind of caught between a rock and a hard place." The town has appealed to the ATF for permission to sell the gun, but so far, bureau officials have rejected the pleas. A spokesman for the ATF said yesterday that it would be possible for the Nahant police to register the gun and take responsibility for it, which would prevent it from being destroyed. They could also possibly transfer it to another public agency, but it's unlikely that it can be sold on the market , according to Jim McNally, a spokesman in Boston for the ATF . He said the agency -- at the request of US Representative John F. Tierney, a Salem Democrat -- is researching options that Nahant might be allowed under the law, such as transferring the gun to a private museum. "There are pretty clear-cut laws when it comes to automatic weapons," McNally said yesterday. "This is a unique weapon, and it would be sad to see it destroyed. Whether it can raise money for what they're looking for is another matter." In an effort last fall to get special permission to register the gun, town officials approached Tierney and Senators Edward M. Kennedy and John F. Kerry for legislation that would grant the town an exception to the restrictions. Neither Kerry nor Kennedy responded. Tierney issued a statement yesterday calling the machine gun a "remarkable object" and said his office is engaged in discussions with the ATF. The library's machine gun discovery was first reported Monday by The Daily Item in Lynn. Richard Hallion, a military historian who has studied Hiram Maxim, a Maine native who built the first effective machine gun, said he knew of no other gun from the York battle. He believes that numerous museums might be interested in preserving this one. But Chris Berg, who owns a company that specializes in historic military weapons, said that the library's gun is worth little because it is not registered. "In all honesty," he said, "it's only worth $500." He said if it were registered and legal to sell, he would pay at least $50,000.

I would recommend leaving it the way it is as well. It add's a bit of character and a unique quality all in it's own. Regards, Joel

Chip, Thank you for the correction. Regards, Joel

Gents, Here is another that just came in via Luftpost. Love the captured Hotchkiss! Regards, Joel

Tom, They indeed were. Regards, Joel

Guys, Out of curiousity, what would be the value of a Nassau medal? Only 5,000 or so were issued. Regards, Joel

Jan, You are acquiring the World's stores of excellent to mint condition Eisernes Kreuz's my friend! Another fine acquisiton. Regards, Joel

Dan, I have to tell you an incredible story having to do with our current conversation. Today, at work I met a Gentleman by the name of Werner Tanner who actually was a Cabinetmaker by trade. He was telling me of his experiences of growing up in Munich during the War. As Germany had surrendered he remember being around the age of nine and a friend of his found a fully loaded Luger still in it's holster that was thrown onto a garage roof. (Interesting to note is, that He stated that there were alot of items tossed up and onto roofs as the retreat and surrender had been conducted.) Being inquisitive and immature, he and his friends tried to unload the gun and a round was jammed. To all of there luck they pointed it away from themselves and pulled the trigger, a loud "Pop" was heard and fortunately the only casualty was a tree limb. The interesting thing was that he still dabble's with wordworking and he offered his services to building me a medal case or gun box. Truly coincidental and what a nice guy to share his life's experiences. I'll keep you posted. I also know what it means to prioritize and put the things that we want aside and take care of the essentials. I am looking at buying my first house and my Wife has stated that the Militaria purchases will have to cease for a while. I just told her that I'd work harder and she can Govern the entire house with the exception of my War Room. Yeah Right! LOL! Regards, Joel

Dan, Well done on the design of your presentation case! Seeing your case has actually given me a thought of calling a family friend who is a high-end cabinet maker who originally hails from Germany. I'm thinking of giving him a call and commissioning him on building an awards case and after seeing your's, a gun case too. Dan , you have a very nice gun collection by the way. Someday, I'll have a broom handle as well and certainly no gun collection should go without the dateless style of a Walther PPK. I'll give you a range repoty once the weather gets a little better up here in the Northeast. Thanks again my friend for your interest. Regards, Joel

Dan, I thank you for your interest and certainly sharing your heart felt experience's with the P-38. Love to see pictures of your gun collection too. I am certainly in agreement with your thought of finding a nice presentation box. A nice dark Walnut or even a beautifully patinaed Cherry box to accentuate the rose bakelite grips would certainly do the gun justice. Thank you again for your suggestions. Kind Regards, Joel

Naxos, Great Pictures! Thanks for posting them. Regards, Joel

Gents, Here is another recent arrival. Nice shot of an Officer with his, by the looks, newly awarded EK2. Regards, Joel

Micha, Absolutely Gorgeous! What an incredible find. Regards, Joel

One more picture with a little oil and alot of TLC. Regards, Joel

Gentlemen, Finally get to check off one of my must-have's in Miltiaria Collecting. Still need to find a Luger, Pickelhaube, Prussian Pilot's Badge, Visor Cap..... etc. The list goes on and on...LOL! Doesn't it ever right? Here was an opportunity that presented itself the other day. It is a 1942 Walther P-38 first variation, Serial numbered 1706b and was one hundred away from the end of this series of production for the month of March 1942. All of the tell-tale E/359 stamps are abound and I can't wait to clean it up and fire a few rounds through it. Regards, Joel

Glenn, Thank you for your additional information. Until I find a nice spot on the wall, I'll have Mr. Garcia keep a watchful eye over him. LOL! Regards, Joel

George, Thank you for your kind words. I just gave myself a pat on the back for that one... LOL! Regards, Joel

Could the "RM" represent the Company, Rheinmetal? (sp.) Just out for the pursuit of furthering my knowledge..... Joel

haynau, Thank you very much for the helpful link! Regards, Joel

Gentlemen, I have a good friend of mine that has sold me this picture knowing that I'm a collector of Imperial German militaria and soon to be by the looks an aspiring Austro-Hungarian collector as well. The picture has a beautiful frame and I'm fond of the colorizing that has taken place. My questions are, to what unit he was enlisted in as well as, what is the award which adorn's his chest? Regards, Joel

Incredible Detail! They are small works of art. Thank you as well for sharing them. Regards, Joel