Daniel Murphy

I agree, very impressive. Any chance you would post them in the collection forum? This is apparently only a drop in the bucket and I would love to see more. Dan Murphy

Close up of the unit mark. Dan Murphy

Reverse.

Here is a nice 1895 pattern buckle with the original tab, that I have had for a few years. Since it has the Iron Cross on the crown it is post 1897 made. All buckles before 1897 have a Christian cross with rays. The tab is not maker marked and never has been, which leads me to believe it was made pre war by the workmen at the Bekleidung Amt.. The tab is marked "29 R" for Infanterie-Regiment von Horn (3. Rheinisches) Nr.29 which was stationed in Trier as part of the 16th Division of the IX Armee Korps. Dan Murphy

The reverse looks much better. Dan Murphy

I know this may not set your heart to throbbing, but I saw this recently and thought it was a good gondition well used late war 1915 buckle (that has not been reenactor used). There is some feldgrau paint remaining on the obverse. Dan Murphy

Reverse of the buckle. Notice the large head on the rivet holding the prongs and the fact that the head is on the bottom. Standard practice on most Imperial German buckles is to have the rivet head on the top edge (as worn)of the buckle. From the width of the prongs on this buckle it was made for a 50mm belt. The prongs had to be bent inward to accomodate the narrower holes on the 45mm belt. So we have a 45mm brown belt with a 50mm size replaced catch. Then this belt has been fitted to this 50mm buckle. This is typical of the hard use and abuse that equipment normally sustained when issued to local troops. Dan Murphy

Here the buckle is shown latched, notice the width of the catch.

Here is a belt and buckle I picked up some years ago. It is of the type used by indigenous German Colonial Troops such as Askaris. The buckle measures 50mm, but does not have the cut out sides of the 1847. The belt itself measures 45mm and has a replaced 1847 style catch. The buckle has no provision for a roundel and never had one. Dan Murphy

My understanding is that the first older buckle you show is the 1847 pattern. I am not aware of a 1880 pattern buckle. Great buckles BTW. Dan Murphy

Christophe, That is one very nice and very rare buckle. I have never seen one in the flesh with this cypher before. With the small number of men and even fewer numbers of officers supplied by this duchy, I would not imagine many are remaining. Especially in this condition. Dan Murphy

David, Thanks it does look very close to a K&Q. Here is a montage of a 65 marked '39 and my '14. what do you all think. Dan Murphy

Micha, Great looking cross. Souval made nice pieces, but unfortunately is another one of those makers whose name has been tainted by the fakers. Just like Rothe, they were partly to blame for it. Many years ago ANYTHING marked L/58 was a fake. Now we know better and can tell the good ones, like yours. David, I thought the same thing at first, but looking closely it appears to be a brown patina on the bare iron. Dan Murphy

Screwback detail. Dan Murphy

Reverse.

I am not really a fan of the post '39 made 1914 EK1s, but recently this one said "Buy me." I liked the nice details on the cast iron core. It has a plated neusilber frame and the generic WW2 type screwback also in plated neusilber. What looks like brass is actually tarnish. The cross is totally unmarked. Does anyone have an indication of who the maker was? Obverse. Dan Murphy

Kevin, Prarie Flower Leather Company makes the best. You can get a complete liner with pad and pins, or just the parts you really need. Here is the link: Dan Murphy http://pflco.com/german.htm

Beautiful pieces everyone. I am also of the opinion that a RAO crown should be enameled. Even on the later small ribbon bars as shown here. Dan Murphy

Micha, That is a great AWS, shame the plate is missing. It unmarked only because the screwpost occupies the same spot as the maker mark. The frame appears to be a plated brass one. If it is, it is the first I have seen that was not silver. I don't know how, but you have a knack for finding the best crosses. I guess it is location, location, location! Being in Germany does not hurt. Dan Murphy

Micha, You have two very beautiful crosses there (and the cases don't hurt either ). I have to say I have never seen that standing hinge variation before. I had expected it would be the regular hinge on its end, but this is a totally different hinge / pin system. I know we have heard much of some manufacturers supplying parts to other firms. Do you think that perhaps they did not get their shipment of hinges from a supplier and had to make them from sheetmetal? And then had to modify the pins by adding that silver "stop"? Dan Murphy

David, It looks liike a nice original to me. The core looks to be sand cast as were the originals. The frame has good beading and a hump at the top is always a good sign for a quality original piece. Good luck. Dan Murphy

Hey, thsts my line. D. Murphy sorry keybord problems.

Gentlemen, The piece looks very good to me. Nice Godet short 7 EK2. I thought the m,ker would be Godet, but still very nice. The LS crosses were just updeted since I9I3. Looks like good old piece to vet still living until WWI. D. Murphy

Mark, I see nothing wrong with the tunic, why do you call it converted? Is it that you mean it was "updated" when the man was promoted. Dan Murphy