Chip

Take a guess! Right! They're darn scarce. I have another pair that is numbered (#20). Chip

Here's an example of an enlisted M15 Gebirgs-Artillerie strap. No unit number assigned. Possibly unissued. Often, unit numbers were added later upon assignment from the Ersatz unit. Chip

The color collar tabs were worn on the M1908 and (those still in use) M1894 overcoats in 1914. In 1908 the Saxons decided to go with subdued feldgraue Kragenpatten with only a colored piping. This was, however, only for the newly made wartime issue Kriegsgarnituren, which were not to be worn in peacetime. These remained in the various B.A. Kammer until the war started. All other contingents did not adopt this due to budgetary constraints. In January of 1915 when the so-called "Ersatzmäntel" or simplified M1908 coats were decreed, newly made examples were to be finished without Kragenpatten. Previously made coats of all patterns retained the collar tabs. That's why you see them on coats well into the war. Chip

Andreas, I think you are correct about the Grenadier Rgt. Nr.3. The cyphered shoulder strap in the second photo looks to be that regiment. The piping would show up as black if it were the yellow piping of the Garde Gren.Rgt. Nr.3. Chip

With over 200 field gray tunics, Marshall's collection predominantly consisted of private purchase tunics. He had issue ones, to be sure, but only a small fraction, as you would expect. As I recall, he only had one issue M1907 infantry example. Chip

That's all I can think of. Charles, why do you ask? Chip

Chris, I've seen those Lindner pieces on the cards several times over the years. I had one of this style some years ago, but when I found a pin-backed example, I passed the prong- backed one along. It just seemed if I was ever going to attach it to a cap, it would be much easier to do with a safetypin style attachment. Chip

Holy sh*t Adler! That Bavarian Probe is unbelievable. One could only dream of having such an example. Chip

Hmmm. I think that second photo might actually be of a J.z.P officer.

Chis, I think your "angry" e-mail was an attempt at humor, albeit a failed one. Chip

Chris, That's an unusual shoulder strap configuration on your bag. I had not seen this. All other ones I have seen have the clips for the removable shoulder strap. Here are my two. I have the navy pattern shoulder straps for both. Chip

Eric, You should sell this stuff to your collector friends for a fair price. With on-line auctions it's a crap shoot, especially for gear. Chip

Could also be Saxon Garde Reiter. I think the white piping down the front rules out Jäger zu Pferde. Chip

This is probably a question for Glenn, but there may be others here that have knowledge of this. I once read that the Bavarians occasionally moved units between their three corps. As I recall, this was done before WWI, but I am not sure about the period 1907-1914. If they made any changes during this period, I would like to know which units may have been involved. Thanks in advance, Chip

If I'm not mistaken, these units were charged with collecting usable battlefield debris (helmets, field gear, unspent ammo, metals, etc.). Items were collected at various points for sorting and shipping to recycling centers. Chip

Interesting, but it wouldn't be the first time an unofficial award shows up in a Militärpaß. I've seen one with the Souville Höhen Spange listed. Chip

The 68R is a regimental mark. The "f" if it is a lower case "f", could stand for feldbrauchbar, a stamp that was normally an ink stamp and indicated that the belt had been refurbished and was suitable for field use. Chip

Jock, How about a close-up of the armband?

Chris, These are Litewka, not the overcoat I was referring to earlier. Normally, Litewka had the same straps as the Waffenrock. Chip

Chris, That, obviously, is not Drillich, but rather a cotton Sommeruniform. Originally ordered for Heimat use, due to the wool shortage, they were hit the same year they were approved with a cotton shortage. When the situation improved in 1917, they were issued to troops serving in the Balkans, Ukraine and the Crimea. I have a period photo of it being worn in Turkey and it was most likely issued in the rest of the Middle East as well. Chip

Yeah, they are 104's. Wish there had been a wartime set. Chip

Photos that show soldiers without their shoulder boards are not that unusual. They were often removed for photos. In this case, however, I could not guess the reason, as Landsturm tunic shoulder straps normally do not display any insignia. Chip

I've got some Bavarian uniform and equipment plates from that era. The writing with the pictures is tiny, but it looks like the model is an M/50. Chip

Andreas, I thought the Kraus books for the infantry were finished with the "Infantrie Band 3 Ersatztruppen und Feld-Rekrutendepots"? Is there something else to come? Chip

Chris, There are several websites that sell unit histories on disks, so if they can copy and resell these histories, I would think you could reprint them as well. Chip