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Everything posted by Chip
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Chris, That's another reason I don't collect officer's insignia per se. There are a ton of mint, unused officer's boards floating around. You can easily identify them by their closed button holes (never spread apart by having a button shank moving around in them and also by the the horizontal string stains, showing where they were once tied in pairs. These are used with loose numbers and cyphers to create all sorts of things. Loose cyphers and crowns are around, but it's tough to get a good match. What is really disturbing is that you can buy just about any repro cypher and crown you need from German dealers. They are made from original dies and are very difficult to tell from a period piece. The good thing is that they are not cheap. Chip
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Strange Tornister
Chip replied to Hoss's topic in Germany: Imperial Uniforms, Headwear, Insignia & Personal Equipment
The locked compartment is what confuses me. Chip -
Feel my pain.... As you guys probably know, I have been collecting these for nearly fifty years. Buying straps for $0.50-$1.00 has come a long way. The advent of ebay was the big watershed, as before that, the major collectors in this country could be counted on one hand (all of them still doing so). If you study today's prices like I have, you will find, that for the most part, it is a very small group of collectors (primarily European) who are fighting each other over the most desirable pieces. They have not only driven the prices up, but have also pretty much monopolized the market. I'm sure you all have experienced the frustration and sting of the same wealthy collectors getting, not only the good stuff, but pretty much vacuuming up everything else as well. I'm sure there are those outlyers, who are not strap collectors and are looking for something from a particular unit due to a family connection or to accompany items in their main collection (Lugers, Pickelhauben, etc.) These people have no idea what a strap should sell for in many cases and they too can drive a price to a point where strap collectors are scratching their heads. Cyphered straps are no more rare that any other strap within the normal considerations of how long the unit was in existence, how big the unit was or whether it was an elite unit or not. They tend to be collected because they are a finite set and they're attractive. If there is such a thing as a market price today, I would say the average for a single M07 issue enlisted strap is in the range of 100-150 Euro. An issue M15 with number, 50-60 Euro. Pairs and cyphers bring a premium as do special units, i.e. Artilleriemesstrupps, Starkstrom, Flieger, Gebirgsartillerie, etc.. Officer's boards can be really cheap, especially numbered units. Of course, officer's boards are scarcer, quantity-wise, but enlisted man's straps are more widely collected. I wish I could quote something close to a stable market price, but there really is no such thing in the auction environment of today. Fortunately, for me, I have accumulated a nice collection over the years, so I can stay out of the fray. I do feel empathy for anyone trying to build a collection now, as it will be very expensive and highly frustrating. Chip
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The special sleeve insignia did not appear until 1918, so I suspect that is why we don't see that many photos of it being worn. Also, it may be a consideration that this was a metal insignia on a cloth backing and those metal insignia got snagged pretty easily. That's why you seen so many that are sewn down on caps, shoulder straps and collars. It might be that they just didn't bother with this except on their walking out uniforms. Chip
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ks98 bayonet markings
Chip replied to daveh's topic in Germany: Imperial Uniforms, Headwear, Insignia & Personal Equipment
It's the Prussian mark (W=Wilhelm II) with the date of manufacture. Chip -
M15 Tunic
Chip replied to Chris Boonzaier's topic in Germany: Imperial Uniforms, Headwear, Insignia & Personal Equipment
Are there size markings or any other ink stamps on the lining? Chip -
Tuchhosen
Chip replied to Chip's topic in Germany: Imperial Uniforms, Headwear, Insignia & Personal Equipment
Eric, Is that 1917 dated pair of Stiefelhose yours? They look just like my pair, same date, ankle ties, etc. Very nice. Chip