Chip

Chris, Very nice. These are like canteens to me, that is, I just can't stop picking them up. Help! I especially like the obscure makers and the unit marked aluminum cups. PS If you would like to pass them along, let me know. Chip

Thanks Theodor, Could that be "Vereinigungsstelle" on your holster? Also, was there a date? Chip

Chris, Is there some significance to the color of the carrying can? Is this painted over Feldgrau or is it the original paint finish? I like the color of that helmet in the picture. I have one that color too. Is this lighter color particular to a certain manufacturer or was that just an earlier color? Chip

Chris, Very nice and a matching scabbard too. What is the date on the spine? I have one dated 1913, but without the nifty unit marking. Chip

Sorry, I meant for the holster, not Pecards. Thanks, Chip

Chris, Where does a POW get gold to make such things? You would think the captors would confiscate any gold. Since he was obviously an artisan, perhaps he had done some work for the Brits and they allowed him this indulgence. Chip

Theodor, If you can read it clearly, could you give me the manufacturer name, the city and the date? Thanks, Chip

Here's my contribution. Written December 21, 1914. A good game of Skat, a little Muzik, fine food from home, a Tannenbaum, box of cigars and an only slightly annoying barrage. Merry Christmas everyone! Chip

Dave, I've seen your tunic before and it is one of the most odd hybrids that I have ever seen. The Bavarian braid on the cuff is unique. All the same, it is a very outstanding example and is especially colorful. Chip

Speaking of the Bavarian Auszeichnungsborte, there is an excellent article on the subject (written by Jurgen Kraus) concerning how this insignia was developed and the process that the Kriegsministerium went through. Included are some very interesting ideas that they ended up not using. It appeared in a 1975 edition of "Zeitschrift f?r Heereskunde". Another relevent article from the July/October 1991 issue of the same publication is entitled, "Feldwebelleutnants, Offizierstellvertreter und vergleichbare Dienstgrade im 1.Weltkrieg 1914-1918" written by my friend, H.R.von Stein. I have two uniform items with this Borte. One is a 1916 dated Bluse with the full length braid and the other is a 1917 overcoat with the braid on the front edge of the collar. By the end of the war the braid was being dropped altogether, primarily due to cost and material shortages. Most often it is seen on private purchase walking-out-dress service tunics and Friedensuniformen. I have original lengths of both the officer's and enlisted braid and there were some slight variations, which may be due to the differences between government issue and custom made materials. For instance, I have seen enlisted braid both with blue/white lozenges and blue/gray lozenges. Chip

Rick, Your first picture has me a bit puzzled. This Unteroffizier appears to have attributes of both rank's insignia, as you mention in your caption. This is not Kosher and I have never seen it before. What are your thoughts as to why he is wearing this combination of insignia? Chip

Chris, Congratulations on finding a very nice example. I don't think I have ever seen one marked in this way. If they are unit marked at all, it is usually an ink stamp on the inside of the flap. I love it! Chip

Some stragglers! Please send all cast-offs my way. Chip

Heiko, Please pardon my ignorance, but can you tell me why the OZL is at the back of this bar, behind the centennial medal and others? I am just a babe in the woods when it comes to medals, so I thought an order such as this would outrank several of the pieces ahead of it. Thanks, Chip

A page from his Milit?rpa?.

All, Here is my example. It was taken off of a tunic, so the condition is not the best. It is a Juncker piece. Of interest is that when it was taken apart to put on the tunic, the backing plate was put back on upsidedown. You can also see the ghost of where the badge originally was impressed into the cloth. When it was put back together on the tunic, there was no way (or care) to match the original holes where the prongs went through in the wool, thus the misalignment. Along with this badge, I received the owner's dogtag, Milit?rpa? and a small diary. The owner had an interesting history, having been in the following MG units, 2.M.G.Ss.Komp.d.M.G.Ss.Abt.33, Ers.Geb.M.G.Abt.Nr.4, Geb.M.G.Abt.Nr.254, Geb.M.G.Abt.201. Chip

MG Becher! Sehr Rar! Chip

One more, EK2 6.Jan.1917 So are there any educated guesses out there as to why Ausgust 1917? Chip

Tom, That is a very nice example. Chip

Otto, Thanks for sending the additional pictures. I'm afraid Rosenberg is right, there are some bad signs here, like the lithopane, the crooked lettering, etc. I guess your friend knew what he was talking about. Chip

Paul, A very nice lot. Extremely colorful and all so nicely related to the regiment. Chip

notned, Actually, I was talking about the one with the helmeted soldier, that has "Mannheim" on it. This one you are now showing is a bit small for my old eyes. Can you enlarge it so that the inscription might be read? The cypher is also that of the 110th Grenadiers. Chip

Joe, Yes, the REK goes in that third spot. Stogie had a loose "Treu dem Regiment" example just a month or so ago. May still have it? If you are going to keep with the naval motif, you will have your work cut out for you in finding a navy related bar for that ribbon. Besides, I think the navy REK ribbon was all blue with no stripes. You might want to put the Kyffhauser medal on the second place, as that would allow you to use most any unit bar that you would come across. Also, the Marine REK is much tougher to find. Chip

notned, The badge is for the association of former members of the 110th Gren.Rgt. The cypher in the middle was that of Kaiser Wilhelm I, for whom the regiment was named. They wore this cypher on their shoulder straps. Can we get a better look at the other tinnie that is in the picture? Chip

Mike, That size is too large for a cap badge. The Isonzo-Armee piece is very common. I have a cap badge size version. Yours might have been made as paper weight. Does it have any heft to it? These designs were used for various purposes and were made in more than one size. There are miniture versions and I have one that is approximately 4"X4" that was made as a wall plaque and which I have also seen in the cap badge size. Chip