Jesse

Here's one from U-108 I think. (U-431, U-864 or U-1209 may have had a sililar one, not sure. I believe that it may represent the Boat's sponsor city of Danzig.)

Here's a shot through the sight. You can see the cross-hairs, etc. The collector that I bought the sight from explained that the sight is rated for depth. This explains the weight of it. I believe that it is also a "gas" filled optic. The sight doesn't magnify but is a wide lense. I suppose that this was used only for range finding and not so much as searching for threats? I'm extemly curious about this instrument. I find it hard to understand that something like this, being depth rated, would be left on the "Wintergarten" during submersion. But it is extremly robust. If anyone could suggest where to further reasearch this optic I'd love to hear - Thanks again Gents

Just a few more details to share. This is the flak sight broken down. I also weighed the intire combination and its weighing in at an un-natural 35 lbs. (~16 kg). Visually it doesn't look like it should weigh this much.

I'm fortunate to have a very open minded girlfrend. My collection is pretty much cetered in our living room combined with her art work. Its an interesting contast I guess that has to be explained to visitors - Third Reich helmets and U-Boot items, hahahaha. Thanks for the comments - Merry Christmas

I am a bit unsure of this piece but none the less it remains one of my favorites in my collection (I have yet to see it in any original photograghs mounted on a 20mm but am searching). This is the complete sight, minus the rubber eye-cup, and its mount. I'm not very happy with the paint that has been applied post war and would like to remove it. Possibly later re-painting it to its original color; I believe it was a light grey-green ? If anyone has any suggestions on how to take the paint off safely I would love to hear from you. (Also I would like to post more photos. Can anyone tell me how to do this as the allowable size per post is 70k I think ?) - Thank You Gents

I recently purchased this propeller from a very nice collector in Iceland. He obtained it from a man that is working with a museum in Norway. This man works for a museum that got lots of old German surplus from the Norweigian Navy. The propeller may have been part of a spare parts consignment, used in on of the German U-boat bases in Norway I think. There would be 2 of these six-bladed propellers acting in contra-rotation on the G7-a model I understand.

I've been wanting to share this with you gents for some time. A friend of mine in Italy got it from an individual in the German Militery. Based on the box it came in I believe it was used for teaching recuits how to operate and set the direction for the torpedo's Gyroscope.

Hallo Gents, Is it at all possible to research the history of a specific clock by the serial number on the face ? I'm doubtful if such records would exist for particular numbers, but perhaps by groups ? Also could anyone tell me what to look for when purchasing one? I am always looking and would like to have a better understanding of these before I have the good luck to find one. Any comments on fakes as well would be appreciated. Many Thanks - Jesse

Hallo Gents, I am curious about u-boat flak gun sights and am looking for some help. I imagine that there would be three different types ? One for the 88 and two others for the later period guns in the wintergardens perhaps? Most that I?ve seen have a type of view finder that one?s face would be pressed up against. Is anyone aware of a type that has a large circular-direct line sight? Would these have been used on a U-Boat and if not what type of artilary peice might they be specific too? I?m interested really in what these sight looked like. Any photos or links too would be greatly appreciated. Thanks alot for any help. - Jesse

Just my thoughts Paul, I'm real suspious of the liner. It looks like a repro liner from Cech. that I purchased one time. I thought that the Cech one was "pig skin"... not sure why this sticks in my head but the liner looks alot like it. It's just too new to me. Also the puple 60 there is very new looking. To sum up the liner against others that I've seen - no way. They are usually alot darker, almost "toasted" looking. Like the surface is hard, crusty and dark and that it might peel back and reveal a dryed leather, more like card board. The decal and the outside is what caught my eye. Besides the edges looking a bit lifted or stuck on, I thought that it was good. Over all though, the guy wanted $2200 for it. Very much I thought to pay for something that I couldn't hold in my hands. Photos are tough. As much as we all would like to believe in these "oportunities', I think its pushing it. Better to go with an honest gut feeling I think If you really want to learn about these helmets. My 2 cents is a couple of books. "German Camouflaged Helmets" by Branislav Radovic and "SS -Steel" by Kelly Hicks. There are others out there also by the same authors that are very good. The Hicks books are probably better. Simpily the have more writing in them. The others are almost soley photos but still very good I think and have larger more detailed photos. They are all over $60 U.S. dollars last time I checked. The best advice that I've heard on learning about these metal-bowl obssesions is to hold as many of them as you can. Simpily by seeing, smelling and touching the real ones, you get a better idea of what they should be like. I've got alot to learn myself so again, just my thoughts..... Take care - Jesse

Hallo Gents, Have a possible SS helmet here for review. I'm all right with the exterior so far but the liner and chin strap might indicate something else? Curious to see what others may think. Also if anybody can give me a tip on how to add the phots properly I'd really appreciate it. I think the size is too large for more than one at a time on each post, (hence the photos attached to the replies) -Thanks alot - Tschuess, Jesse

That might have been part of the reason the RAF was shooting them up? A sub-conning tower would have probably been a very sought after target. Who knows........... I also remember seeing a cut away of these with a lengthy article somewhere in a book. Will keep my eyes open.

Thanks Chip, Thats interesting. I hadn'y looked that deep into it.

I can never grasp something like that. How do 17 Germans get killed and the other 132 give up? HAHAHA I would have liked to have seen how that went down. Something like Band of Brothers when the officer rus over the hill and starts cranking all the sleeping Germans ?

Hallo Gents, I'm doing a bit of research on a sidecap I have that has the edelweiss emblem on the side. I'm trying to tie the cap to the owner who had the initails sewn inside the cap - "W.D." I know of 4 boats that I think used this emblem; U-124, 515, 524 and 597. I've looked into some crewlists from Uboatwaffe.net but havn't found a match. I've asked the moderator there if the lists are complete and am waiting a response. The cap was bought by a member from Thomas Huss and then I purchased it. I contacted Thomas for some history on it. He stated the following: Dear Jesse, I got the cap from a man how cleans old houses?.I got the cap and a hand full medal and badges ( U-Boat badge, Iron cross?.. ) from him! Sorry but I don't have more information for you about the cap! Mit freundlichen Gr?ssen Dipl. Ing. Thomas Huss German-Historica Another idea might be to research receipteants of the above medels. Does anyone know of any way to research receipteants names of the badges and where they served. Its a bit of a stretch but they may have been found together. He said the combination is original on the cap. My question is does anyone know of other U-boats that used the Edelweiss? And is it possible that a surface crew would have used it aswell? Thanks for your comments and any input. I'm hoping to find out some personal history about the owner of the piece and the Boat that the he served on. Someday I'd like to then also bring together some of the original items of that boat if possible. - Jesse

I'm curious if it is at all possible to tell from what area this helmet may have come from by the color alone? I don't know if there is anyway to tell if one might have been exclusive to Africa. Where else would tan have been used? Italy, Greece or maybe Southern Russia? I belive that in March of 1942 a darker shade of tan was used than previous for the Africa theater. This is far from a "mustard tan" or even a brown color. Does this really rule out Africa? I think it is genuine, only from photos though.... Any comments would be welcome. I'm on the fence about buying this one and am looking for some enlightenment ? Thanks Gents and Merry Christmas

Does anybody recognize the emblem on the side of this M-16? I'm trying to determine a little of it's history and above all else if it is genuine. Thanks Much

Gents, I wanted to add some info. on this topic that I discovered today and could possibly be expanded and added to on this stein. I visited a gun show today and met a collector who focuses on Axis militaria. He has a presentation set of a very small "stein" like cup for buboun and a matching plate. This set he said was given to Martin Mutschmann. I believe he was a high ranking nazi from back to the earlier days. The collector said he had a party number of something like #17 I think. Anyways the stein had the same large swastika with an eagle on top of it as the one shown in the pictures here. I asked about it and explained a little about my peice. He said that the eagle with the swastika was the N.S.R.L. eagle or National Sports Awards. This set of his would have been presented to an individual, for example that had achieved something for the war effort and that needed to be quickly exploited for the propaganda value of it. I later returned to the gun show with the stein because both of us were interested to learn more. He thought very positive of the stein. He explained that it was handmade, and silverplated. He also stated that the eagle on the handle (not shown) is the government "type" eagle with short wings. Another elderly man suggested that we compare the maker marks of the pieces. (This mark is shown in the photographs here). His stein had the same exact marks under the lid as the one here. I think he said the maker was in Dresden. The big question still remains in my mind about the engraving though. There really is no way to prove now that the engraving is genuine. Anybody could have picked up a blank stein and had it engraved with whatever name and information they chose. I'm looking further into this piece and am a bit more excited about it; as compared to the possiblity of being burnt initially - HAHA. I want to share this with everyone and see what info and further opinions pop up. A piece like this is very difficult to authenticate and pessimissm will probably continue to rule. But it does make interesting conversation at the least and may lead to some gained knowlege for us also. I'd like to e-mail the collector I spoke with today with further questions on this as he has been the only one with alot experience who has held it. If anyone has any better questions that I should have asked please forward them. Maybe he'll even join the forum. In the meantime I'll be toasting my vodka from the stein. Merry Christmas - Jesse

Hello Gents, I wanted to post this stein and see what comments and thoughts on it there may be - as far as authenticity and anything else really. I realize that without actually holding it this is difficult. But none the less someone may have come across a similar item or may be able to offer some thoughts or questions. (I'll try to post some more photos but am not having much luck with the machine). Thanks much - Jesse

Regarding stop watches: I imagine that it's not safe to say that these watches would be only used on U-Boots. Is it know by anyone how to tell, if at all possible, a stop watch that would have been used on a submarine? Occasionally these watches show up on e-bay out of the Ukraine and I'm always curious about them as being actually from a U-Boot. Thank You Gents, Jesse