Chip

I have had this sleeve insignia for many years and had originally bought it thinking it might be from the WWI era, as it was on field gray cloth. I've searched and searched and have never found anything like it from that period. The "flag" is a representation of a commander's flag and the number below is "18". Recently, I have been told by more than one person that this is most likely an early Reichswehr inisignia. Has anyone seen anything like it?

Thanks in advance,

Chip

I have one that color too. I know that the paint finish supposedly indicates that it is early, but I wonder if we have any proof of this? When did they change to the darker finish? I don't suppose there is any info out there, or we would have heard it by now.

Chip

I think the Bavarians tended to do this when the new 1915 regulations first came out. You normally see it on a Waffenrock and not on a Bluse.

Chip

Nice cover Eric! Is it marked in any way on the inside? That helmet looks pretty crispy too.

Chip

Quite a few Militärpaß have stamps to these units where recovering wounded or sick men went as a type of holding company until the soldier was ready to rejoin a field unit.

Chip

The sleeve insignia was based on the old "Blitzbundel" worn on the shoulder straps of the Telegraphentruppen up until 1911.

Eric,

Yes, it's November 5th, 1915. Almost all navy issue gear is marked this way.

Chip

Kornel,

No wizard, no hostage keeper, just an old collector. I've seen a lot of militaria, owned a lot of things, seen a lot of period photos and read a lot of source material. There is still a lot of heretofore unknown collector information out there. I find it encouraging that people like Rick L. and Daniel and many others have advanced our knowledge with their hard work. There's more to be done and I certainly still have a lot to learn.

Best,

Chip

Some unit straps you just never see either, take IR 180 for instance.

You mean this one....

And finally, my navy dress jumper along with an issue white top cap.

And an issue navy work/field jumper. B.A.W. (Wilhelmshaven) 1915.

And here is an issue linen shirt. Marked "K.C.1916".

Continuing with the shirts....here is another one of my army issue ones. Marked B.A.XV 1915.

Hossie,

I do have a mint Bavarian infantry pair. They're nicely marked.

Chip

Man! Chris! The list of things you'd kill for is getting pretty long!

Chris,

I'm guessing that the Leiberring was a wartime thing and not given by the association in the postwar period. I recall seeing a Sterbebild with a mention of the ring.

Chip

Wow, talk about exposed! They can be seen from every angle as well as above. Nowhere to hide!

Chip

I have a nearly identical pair, even marked to the same U.R.11. Mine are dated 1901 and are also B.A.G. marked. Someone must have raided the garrison laundry!

Chip

I've always wanted one of those armbands! The museum here had one, but it was stolen in a break-in in 1980s. Sadly, it was probably thrown away, as the thieves took things at random, firearms, insignia, etc. Anyway, it never resurfaced.

Chip

I also have a navy issue Drillich suit. This is the top. The matching bottoms have the same marks.

Chip

Here is one of my navy issue shirts. You don't see these very often. It's part of my naval infantry set.

Chip

Which pattern were they?

With numbered ones almost anyone with a box of munbers can make straps, but with Cyphers you need somewhat scarce metal Cyphers?

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

The locked compartment is what confuses me.

Chip

Ed,

I don't see them. Where are they (not that I could afford one!)?

Chip