Mark M

Here is another view of the same piece from a different angle. [attachmentid=28286]

First up is an early war British 18 pound field gun and crew. [attachmentid=28285]

Here are some 28mm figures I "putz" around with painting in my spare time. These are 28mm figures, and the first photo is done for a scale comparisson. [attachmentid=28284]

When I saw it I had to reread it several times to make sure that the tunic was included and not being used as just a prop. I then had to go back and reread it a few more times to make sure that I wasn't missing a number somewhere in the BUY IT NOW price. I even went so far as to check the shipping/handling costs to make sure that they were not charging something like a 1,000 Euro's for handling. I wonder if they have anything more they want to give away.......

Here is a rather good deal on a Prussian Official's Kleiner Rock IF you live in Germany. The seller is quite adamant about keeping it in Germany. http://cgi.ebay.de/Uniformjacke_W0QQitemZ6...1QQcmdZViewItem

No, no, everyone knows that dragoon's used canaries. Hussars were well known for their love of parrots. They were known to ride into battle with them sitting on their shoulders!

No, I think it had to do with the fact that most Kurassier officers were of nobility and could afford twice the sword as other officers! The funny thing is that the two swords use the same blade and scabbard. The only difference was in the hilt design. But it is what it is and it makes the difference between a $200 dollar sword and a $2000 sword!

Rick Take a closer look at the degen and you will see that there is a difference between the pictured sword and yours. Prince Moritz is wearing the tunic of a Kurassier officer and the degen is the standard pattern degen worn by Kurassier officers for gala occasions. The degen in your photo is the M1818 that you mention. The big difference between the two is the Kurassiers degen has a cross guard that is raised above the claim shell and is shaped like a "T" with the knuckle bow attaching at the halfway point on one side. Your degen has a slightly different cross guard configuration. While the differences are minor to the eye there is a termendous difference in the value of the sword. Here is the standard M1818 pattern: [attachmentid=25069] And here is the Kurassiers pattern: [attachmentid=25070]

Here is a direct link to the book in case anyone wishes to purchase it. http://www.namibiana.de/index.cfm?action=V...ils&itemid=1836

Daniel Thank you for the information. Looking at the straps it did not look fesible to carry the sled with them but that is what most of the references say they are for. It also seems like the straps were short lived as they do not seem to be worn too much as the war progressed. Mark

I have a general question about the Maxim MG08 sleds that I am hoping someone can answer. According to reference books the slings that the crews wore could be used for transporting the sled. Yet in every photo I have ever seen the crews usually either carried the sled like a stretcher - one in front and back or two to a side, or dragged the sled by the front legs. Did the slings actually attach to the sleds and if so, where? Does anyone have a photo showing the sled actually being carried by the slings? Thanks in advance, Mark Here is the typical sling: [attachmentid=24353] And the sled. [attachmentid=24354] So just where and how would the sling attach?

FYI - The book costs 27.50 Euros and shipping to the US is 3 Euro's for standard speed, 9 Euro's for Airmail. The publisher's website is: www.namibiana.de The book is available now but will not be on their website until next week sometime. You can order it from them now by sending an email to them at the following address: buchdepot@namibiana.de Mark

Schutztruppe Thank you for the contact information. I sent an email to them and they provided the following information: thank you very much for your interest in the book For Valour. Gordon McGregor This book hopes to fill the much neglected area of both the German and Namibian medallic history and research namely the so called colonial Iron Crosses and Wound Badges that were awarded in the German colony of South West Africa during the 1914 ? 15 war. The book will also give the reader the background and events that led to the awarding of the ?Hildegard Orden?, the only official variant of the 1914 Iron Cross, in German South West Africa. Also included is the history of both the Iron Cross and Wound Badge that were awarded for the 1914 ? 15 campaign in the German colony as well as name lists of those that were awarded these decorations. A name list of the few persons that were awarded the ?Hildegard Orden? is also included for the very first time. Of particular interest is the section dealing on how the former German colonial soldiers, still residing in the country after the war, got their awards remembering that the country was now administered by the Union of South Africa and no longer by Germany. The book also contains copies of various interesting documents relating to the ?Hildegard Orden?, the Iron Cross and the Wound Badge that have been uncovered by the author during his research work for this publication. This is a book that is a must on the book shelves of every historian and colonial collector dealing with the former colony of German South West Africa. Softcover 148 x 210 mm 128 pages 20 colour photos 28 black/white photos Please contact our partner in Germany for an order: Namibiana Buchdepot Herrn Ulrich Ender An den Graften 38 27753 Delmenhorst Telefon 04221-1230240 e-mail: buchdepot@namibiana.de Please contact us for further information. Kind regards. Tanya Kriel Manageress Namibia Scientific Society P O Box 67 Windhoek Namibia Tel: + 264 - 61 - 225 372 Fax: + 264 - 61 - 226 846 e-mail: nwg@iway.na www.kuiseb-verlag.com They were also kind enough to send a photo of the book. I hope this helps everyone who is interested in purchaseing a copy. [attachmentid=23588]

Rick Again, many thanks for looking into this. It just seems really odd that he would have been presented with a sword with a Krigsminister/General's engraved signature as a cadet present if there was no connection between the families. You don't think that maybe he was a civilian? Anyway, you can't win them all. I got lucky with the colonial lion head but struck out on this one, at least for now. Thanks again, Mark

Rick OK. Sorry about the bum info on the first von Lupke. The ranklists can be such a pain by not adding the first name! OK, what about this approach. Since this does not indicate any rank for von Lupke, perhaps a someone who was retired? Mark

Rick I missed the lower half of your post. Here is the name on the sword. The sword is a deluxe IOD 89 wth damascus blade. Hmmm! The mystery thickens. Mark [attachmentid=23222]

Rick Thanks for checking. Anything on von Heeringen and the date that might tie into von Lupke? Married daughters? It seems strange that a Krigsminister and General der Infanterie would bestow a sword on a lowly captian for no reason. Thanks again, Mark

And here is a photo from the 1908 WKC catalog of the prescribed colonial forces degan. The Reichsadlers are almost identical. [attachmentid=23199]

I was able to get a close up photo of the Reichsadler. It is almost identical to the grip emblem on the prescribed colonial forces sword pattern. The underside of the cross guard is also stamped with Gesch Muster, which I think roughly menas this is a substitute pattern? Here is a picture of the langet. [attachmentid=23198]

Rick I have a puzzle that I am hoping you can solve. I have two names and a date on a presentation sword that I can not find anything to tie all together. The sword was presented to Adolf von Lupke by Kreigsminister Genera der Infanterie Josias von Heeringen on January 18, 1913. von Lupke's name appears on the obverse blade and von Heeringen's name and date on the reverse. The pommel cap is engraved with the von Lupke family crest so I am pretty sure he was the recipient. I know the following about von Lupke's career. He entered the service on 21 September 1889 as a Lt with 2. Hanseatisches Infanterie=Regiment Nr. 76. He was promoted to Oberleutnant on 10 September 1897 while serving with Regiment Nr. 76, and in 1899 was reassigned to Infanterie Regiment von der Marwitz (8. Pommerisches) Nr. 61. On 15 November 1904, he was promoted to Hauptmann and reassigned to 2. Hannoversches Infanterie Regiment Nr. 77. He remained with Regiment Nr. 77 until his promotion to Major on 17 February 1914 and subsequent reassignment to 5. Westpreussisches Infanterie Regiment Nr. 148. He served with Regiment Nr. 148 in WWI and was wounded on 28 December 1916 and died in hospital on 4 January 1917 in Boldul, Rumania. Is there anything that you can find which might indicate what the connection between these two men and the date might be? Thanks in advance, Mark

Schutztruppe Welcome aboard. Can you give any more information about your book? Such as where it can be obtained? Thanks, Mark

Flyingdutchman There was a reprint done of the A. Coppel catalog done a few years back that also contained the company history. It showed the progression of their trademarks used through the years and when they were used. It has been a few years since I have seen one but they were very inexpensive. You might want to try and find one of those. I sure wouldn't throw away the dagger. It is a great looking piece even if the blade is a replacement! Use it as a filler in your collection until a better one comes along. Mark

Flyingdutchman The company Alexander Coppel used several trade marks their their history of production. The earliest being the simple scales followed by the scales/intials (shown in your reference) and so on. I do think Tony's comments about the time frame are correct. Another thing about this blade that looks wrong is the weak center spine. It looks too rounded. Again, not a true indicator of a bad blade but something to be leary of. While many naval daggers were period updated to TR standards (correct pommels and cross guards) I am not sure if there were a lot that only had the blade upgraded. It is still a good looking dagger. Mark

Chip Thanks for the reference. I will have to look it up. I was using Didier Laine's L' Armee Allemande en 1914 and it shows it without. I also checked Charles Woolley's Uniforms and Equipment volume 1 and it shows it with the II but without the ribbons. Man, this is fun! Mark

Chip Thanks. The Saxon Ulan Nr. 21 insignia did not have the ribbons under the crown and only used the W - it left off the II underneath. I think the 116th Regiment is a dead match. The weird thing is that it really looks like the cyphers were cast into the knuckle bow as there is no eveidence of any attachment pins normally used. Rick I too thought of the colonial forces when I saw the Reichsadler. It is the same as normally seen on Imperial naval swords and also the sea batallion insignia. The sea batallion forces normally carried naval swords so I didn't think this was one. Sure, adding the name would make it easy but then think of all the fun we would miss trying to figure out just what this thing really is! This one really has be stumped!