Hauptmann

Hi Greg, Actually funny you should mention that! It took a bit of doing and a good bit of time but I finally got my humble little wound badge collection posted. Been wanting to do it for a while and just had to get the time set aside. Kim & Nick were both out tonight which helped... things were quiet, work was done, and we'd had sunshine today so I could retake the group shot. I'd actually forgotten to put the stickpin set in that one but I just added them. Just couldn't wait any longer. So that one is with the rest. I did a group shot and then went down the years from WWI with a cutout, a naval (both black), a full set of standard wounds as well as my full Prinzen set. Then my "Condor with hollow/solid back in silver. Then on to the set of WWII's, the stickpins then on to my 57 in Gold. One of these days I would love to finish out sets on the cutout, the naval, the "Condor" and the 57's. Yet another of those "long term goals". Well, gotta hit the bed as it's 4:06 a.m. here and it's been an extremely long day. Just finished a project for a friend and I'm beat. But will be back on later today and hope to dig up some more goodies to post. Many thanks for taking a peek and glad you enjoyed. Let me know what you think of the wounds when you get a chance. Have a great one! Dan

Hi Greg, To be honest it's been so many years... dare I say it... twenty or more, since I got this one. I "think" they came together but it's just been too long and my poor addled brain can't remember anymore. I tried for a time to keep a log of purchases, sales, etc. but it just went the way of the dodo. I still have the book but I gave that up early on so it's not in there. The LDO card it's on is marked 0041 (as is my other one that I keep my 57 Afrika stickpin on). There are no markings that I can see on the IAB stickpin. Hope this helps. Glad you like the set. Thanks, Dan

Well, picked up the flag I can't remember where... in fact got the majority of this stuff... well, you know how long ago! The binoculars were a find of the father of a very close friend. Got those for all of $10. He knew I was into militaria so would occassionally find pieces as he was a flea market dealer and he'd pass them on to me at cost... bless him! I got a great print of a painting of the last day of WWI... a navy produced piece showing Marines in the final battle. I hope to get a shot of it but it's framed behind glass and the back is sealed so need to figure out the best way to do that. Also one of the older style T handle U.S. shovels and a few other tidbits over time. The Nambu I purchased at a small gun/sporting goods shop down in Countryside Florida which is next to Clearwater in the Tampa Bay area. Got it and a Soviet marked Moisen Nagant revolver at the same time. If I remember correctly I paid $300 for the Nambu and $200 for the Nagant... should have waited on that one but at the time Soviet stuff was like nill over here. And who knew you'd be able to pick them up for peanuts in later years. Actually passed up one of the WWII British revolvers for it... sorry now I didn't pick that one. But I do love my Nagant. The holster for the Nambu is actually an excellent copy and has the cleaning rod included. Some friends went to a gun show once and found me a box of shells for this. I've fired it around three times just to get a feel for it but as the ammo is pricey and the firing pins are fragile I try not to fire it off if I can avoid it. But it is a fine shooting pistol. I have a couple of Japanese medals... a cased Red Cross and a Sacred Treasure... one of the lower classes which is missing the jewels. But I got it in a trade for next to nothing and sometimes I just can't resist the underdog. Not sure of the Nambu's value now but I've had several gun types tell me over the years that it's a very desireable one due to it's condition which is excellent. It's a year 14 if I remember correctly. One of these days I guess I should get the lanyard for it as well as an extra firing pin. It's a terrific piece and I feel lucky to have it. Thanks for taking a look. Dan

Hi Darrell, Happy to oblige, but I'd best do it later today if it's sunny so I can get the best light. Would love to see your baby as well. Thanks, Dan

The stickpins or babies in the family: And last but not least, a 1957 Gold: Would love to finish this set off some day as well. Thanks for stopping in to take a look. Dan

And the Gold: This is marked L14.

The Silver: This is marked L11.

And my WWII wounds... starting with the black: This is marked 126.

My "Spanish Civil War" or "Condor" in Silver... this is the hollow/solid back variety:

And the pride and joy of my WWI wound collection... my full set of Prinzen sized badges:

And the WWI Gold: These Imperial wounds have a bit of a story behind them. My mom and dad were looking to purchase a farmstead up near us in North Florida many moons ago. The realtor that was showing them their property happened to want a black powder rifle to hang on his wall... he already had several. I happened to have purchased one with a ton of accessories for $90. He expressed an interest in the rifle but had no interest in the accessories. He said he had a possible trade that might interest me. It was a box, about the size of a shoebox that he'd found in the attic of an old house that he'd bought to restore and sell. It was filled with WWI militaria... several full and partial sets of German wound badges, some U.S. and British flight related material, a couple of French railway tickets, some German and I believe Serbian matchbooks (complete with matches) and some razor blades. The prize of the lot in my eyes was a WWI German pilots badge "in cloth"! With "original packet"! He decided to keep one set of the wound badges to keep on a bookshelf in his office and the rest went in trade to me for the rifle. Needless to say I was ecstatic! I sold off most of the wounds as well as the U.S. and British aviation material but I kept the pilots badge with packet and the wounds... pick of the lot of course... as well as the railway tickets, razors, matchbooks, etc. And I still have it all to this day. I think I did okay on that one.

The WWI Silver:

And now the WWI Black:

Here's a naval. Sad that they didn't continue to issue something similar in WWII. And again, some day I'll have to add the silver and gold. It seems kinda lonely at times along with the black cutout.

Hi all, Been holding off on this one as #1 there's alot of pics; #2 been waiting for a sunny day in order to do some good pics of the group as I'd forgotten to add a couple of them the first time I took them. First off, the "family" pic, and then one by one, front and back. The cutout in black: As soon as I discovered them I just "had" to have one. They are strangely appealing... some day I'll have to get the silver and gold to finish the set.

Hi Darrell, I sure do hope so... otherwise I'm in biiiiiig trouble! Thanks! Dan

Thanks for looking. Dan

Hi all, Here is my Afrika Korps cuff title as well as my German/Italian Afrika medal plus a little group of items I popped in with my Afrika Korps pith helmet.

Also if anyone has any info on these... or could tell me the military designation of these... the types of units they would have been issued to... basically anything at all I'd love to hear from you. And I guess another accessory I'd love to get for these is any original paperwork, like a manual, although I'm not even sure that would be possible at this point. Thanks for looking. Dan

Only things that seem to be missing are: The covers for the big lenses. The case. And a small screw in "medallion" marked USMC that goes into the screw hole you'll see in the following photos in the center portion of the binocs. If, my chance, anyone knows where I might by chance find or obtain any or all of these items for a modest sum, please let me know as I'd love to complete them at some point.

Hi all, I'd needed a new set of binocs for quite some time and wanted something built to last. Also wanted something that fit in with my militaria collection. My dream binocs would be a set of the huge Japanese ship binocs, an "Afrika Korps" set, a Kreigsmarine set and a good pair of U.S. Navy binocs... ideally that were issued and used on the U.S.S. Lexington during her years as a training carrier. I took a cruise on her and absolutely fell in love. Got to use a set as a lookout as part of our training on that cruise... oh the temptation to "walk away with them" was soooooo strong! But I don't do those things. Well, on our trip October before last to buy out house here in ND, Kim and I then went out to California to visit with my mom. While in Oakland we visited an out of the way, hard to find militaria shop and found this pair of USMC binocs complete with recticle. And they are in perfect working condition... in fact we used them quite often on the rest of our trip and have continued to do so since. I've even taken beautiful photos through them. And all for the Princely sum of $50!

Hi all, This is a bit late in getting here but had to put it in. Not a nice, perfect, parade ground example of the dress bayo but obviously one that's seen some action. And to me, one of the best parts, (other than my uncle bringing it back) as I'm also a non-military (as well as military) blade collector... it's a PUMA! Thanks for looking. Dan

Hi all, A couple of pics as I couldn't resist joining in on this one. And I hope no one minds but had to sneak in something Japanese... no cross but hope it's okay. I actually meant this one to go under Artistic Crosses but guess I messed up. Of course if "someone" can move it... Thanks for looking. Dan