Chip

Chris,

51.I.R., 5.Komp.Nr.54 was in the 11th Division and the 51st RIR was in the 12th Res.Division, same division that the 38.RIR was in.

Chip

Chris,

That's right. The "Schnappdeckel" 1918 was added to the filter canister for protection against bluecross smoke (Giftrauch).

Chip

Rick,

These are pretty cramped quarters to be using that rifle rest/grenade laucher frame. I can't imagine trying to pick it up and maneuver quickly through such a narrow trench. These things weren't exactly lightweight either.

Depending on the location, there may have been a lack of larger timber in the area (perhaps already stripped away for other trenches or even blown away). You will notice that the vertical supports are metal bars.

These photos with various pieces of technical field equipment have aways been of interest to collectors, but recently the prices have taken off. Today, for instance, a photo I was watching of a Mastfernrohr sold for over $42.00. Granted, these photos show up only rarely, as the units were very small (1 NCO and four men). Units using this piece of equipment were discontinued in January of 1918. I have only seen two shoulder straps from the Mastfernrohrtrupps in over 40 years of collecting.

Chip

Theodor,

All of your canteens are from the period. Most German steel canteens have a soldered-on manufacturer's name plate with date. It is usually on the shoulder of the canteen up near the neck. Of course, the aluminum Austrian canteens were almost always dated too.

Chip

Theodor,

I am not sure what the Bulgarian pouches are for, but the German examples are for horseshoes. The one with the straps is a "Hufeisentasche" of the pattern worn on the "Bocksattel f?r Artillerie und Train". It looks like the other German one (without the straps) had them at one time and they have been removed.

Perhaps the Bulgarian pouches were for some sort of artillery quadrant This is just a guess.

Chip

Mark,

I think the answer is that the enlisted men wore the Kaiser crown without the riband and the officer's wore it with. I have an example of an issue enlisted man's shoulder strap from the regiment for the M1908 (Feldgrau) uniform and the crown is without the riband.

Chip

Theodor,

Great photo. I was trying to see something in the photo that indicates that they are Bulgarians. Right off hand, I don't see anything distictively Bulgarian, although the uniforms look different somehow.

You are correct about your can being the early pattern. It is the one that the so called "Gummimaske" (Gasschutzmaske 1915) were issued in. I prefer these earlier examples. I have five of them, including two in the Segeltuchtaschen, one "?bungsmaske", one with the owners name painted on the lid and an Austrian version for the same mask. I also have one that is made from metal and wood, but it is the taller size and I think it goes with the later masks.

Chip

Mark,

Actually, the cypher on the officer's boards of the 21st Ulans did have the riband and did have the "II". See "Das Deutsche Heer" by Kn?tel d.J., Pietsch and Collas, volume III, second to last page "Nachtr?ge und Korrekturen...".

Best regards,

Chip

Mark,

The style of Wilhelm cypher that appears on the bow of your sword was worn by the members of the 116.IR and the Saxon Ulan Rgt. Nr.21. The cypher on an officer's shoulder board from one of these regiments is identical. This pattern sword is normally identified as a "Kavallerie Interums-S?bel". I am not trying to tell you that this sword must be related to one of these regiments, since this was one cypher of the several official cyphers of the Kaiser and could just be used here in a general way.

Chip

Robin,

There is a picture of the parade drum banner of the regiment in D.H Hagger's paperback Almark book on the Hussars. There are only small skulls on the panels, whose main area is covered by alternating Prussian eagle and the Kaiser's royal cypher designs. The skulls are a frontal view, more like the 17th Hussar's tradition skull. They are much more ornate than your piece, which must be for field use. Like walking out dress as compared to full dress.

Chip

Chris,

There are not really that many patterns, but there was a host of materials used and various combinations exist. One of my favorites is the artillery canteen with shoulder strap (not to be confused with the Labeflasche).

Chip

One of mine is made by "D.W.& M." at "Karlsruhe" (no date) and is unit marked "III.S.B.M. 1911". Two others are unit marked "104R" and "86R". The latter has no pour spout.

Chip

PS The Kraus book shows an aluminum Probe cup and it has no pour spout either!

Chris,

If it is not WWI, it could certainly pass for it. Aluminum mess kits were discontinued pretty early on in the war. All aluminum kits that were at the front were supposedly recalled and replaced. The need for aluminum caused tinned, painted and even raw oiled steel to be substituted by 1915. Later on, as the need for aluminum abated, I believe it was used again, as it really was the best material for this use.

Chip

Chris,

Yes, I have plenty of them. Love field gear!

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