Daniel Murphy

I have this DWM luger dated 1916 SN 1571 with no suffix. This indicates it was made very early in the year. Part of the unit mark is somewhat odd, "J.R.171.I.B.P.24". This indicates to me that it was issued to some part of the 1st Battailon of Infanterie Regiment 171 and the 24 is the weapon number issued to them. But what the h*ll is that "P" for? I have come up with two possibilites (there may be more), the first is "1st Battailon Pioneer detachment"(starting during 1916 infantry battalions were issued with a minenwerfer detachment served by pioneer troops. Although I would have thought it would be marked "MW" instead of "P"). The second is "1st Battailon Patrouillentruppe" (during 1916 infantry units started forming their own assault detachments alternatively known as Stosstruppe, Sturmtruppe and Patrouillentruppe). It is a great piece and I just love unit marked pieces, but this has bugged me for years. Does anyone else have an educated guess? Dan

If we are talking about the values of such items, yes. But the bars and their history will never be out of date. Personally I would enjoy having a book like this. Eye candy with a history. And it may even start collectors thinking about the man behind the medals and the preservation of the history of bars and the men who wore them. If it kept one great medal bar from being plundered and scattered to the four winds on ebay, it would be worth it. Dan

Igor, As a closet Imperial Russian fan, I have to say that is one magnificent piece! Dan

First you have a supposed 1870 EK1 that measures 43.5mm. This indicates a post '41 ek and the wide spread arms reinforce that. this is enough for me to call it a fake or very late museum copy, but then it is marked "925" which is very rarely seen even during the WW1-20's period. Most high silver content EKs were 900, 935, 938 etc. 925 was to my knowledge not seen in germany prior to 1900, this was the ENGLISH standard. Then you have the newly soldered posts, new plate and nuts and we are way over the top already. THEN we have a case that was meant to house a nonportable circular medal (definitely not for an EK). Your Honour, the prosecution rests it's case. And someone has bid this up past ? 2000 ! Dan

Rick and Daniel, I am interested in one of each. Hopefully they will not come out too close together, I am just a poor working schmuck in debt up to his eyeballs. Dan

Dave, I like what you are doing with this. In addition to researching the orders and decorations, one can do some basic research the units of that particular duchy, principality, etc. and where they served. I personally find myself using your site quite often and look forward to these changes. Since you say this is "Too much in the sense of a long-winded description that gets in the way of just seeing the medals" perhaps you could just give an overview on the main page for that area (as you always have) and provide a link for further in depth info on the units themselves. This would satisfy both those there to "see the medals" and those who wish to see some more in depth info on the units. I don't have a lot in the way of Orders and decorations, but if I have anything you can use, I would be glad to supply you with images of them. Since you supply so much help to the collecting community, I believe other members would feel the same way. Can you post a list of the orders and decorations for which you need images? Dan

Major Erwin Koopmann of Panzergrenadier Rgt. 76 / 20th Panzergrenadier Div. was awarded the RK on 11-28-1943. One source I have found mentions he died in 1943, so it must have been shortly after he was awarded it. It is hard to say where he won it, the division was moved around quite a bit at this time. In August they were in the Orel area, September was Briansk and Oct. /Nov. they were in the Dnieper area. Dan

Yes, that is why I have always wondered if the original owner survived. Actually it would have been a shell splinter since the shape of the hole is squared off.

Nice. One thing though, The Bulgarian Bravery cross was worn on the wearers left, not his right. Those loops were probably not for an aviation badge, maybe a Turkish War Medal. Dan

Open.

Finally, here is my favorite Imperial smoking item. In 1991, while wandering about on the crest of the Dead Man at Verdun, I spotted the edge of this sticking up out of the dirt. After carefully wiggling this straight up and out of the earth, I realized it was a cigarette tin. A friend got excited, grabbed it from me and opened it (thankfully doing no further damage to it) thinking there might be an Iron Cross inside. Sadly there was nothing inside but dirt and it was only when I got back to the hotel that I cleaned it and realized that much of the lithography was intact. Having been in the ground for 70+ years the condition is remarkable. It is a tin for "Gold Saba" cigarettes made by Garbaty of Berlin. I often wonder if the Prussian owner survived the battle. Dan

Gordon, Other than one being in gilt and one silver, what is the difference between them? A higher grade of wound or more wounds got the gilt one? Dan

Oh yea, one more thing. I DID say it was trench art. When I said it appeared to have been fired , does a thumbwheel and flint count? Dan

On the other side is the owners initials in a wreath. I have no idea who engraved this, but he was no doubt well trained.

The lower part is engraved "France 1918".

The upper part is engraved "Souvenir de Lorraine". I assume that is the region of France, not his girlfriend.

Here is a piece I picked up a few years ago, upon cleaning the rust from it yesterday I found an engraved inscription. It has an aluminum fuze with a brass tip and a copper driving band and appears to have been fired. It is definitely unusual and measures 20mm X 82mm. Dan

And last but not least... Silver Cut out, plated, non magnetic.

Gold custom made, nonmagnetic. The base metal was nickel plated and then gold plated. The nickel plating gave the gold plating a smoother base and ensured that the badge looked its best when completed. Catch broken off.

Gold, plated non magnetic.

Black, Variant design.

Black, painted, non-magnetic.

Imperial Army Cut out set of miniatures, painted, non magnetic. Sorry, I thought they would look better as a set. L-R Black, Gold, Silver.

Imperial Army, variant design, painted, non-magnetic.

Imperial Army, unmarked in real silver.