Trench shield

[Chris Boonzaier]

Some of you may have seen this in the lounge, the shield as it looked when i brought it back....

[Chris Boonzaier]

Well, after a bit of a clean up... a dirty, dirty, dirty job.... there is a clearer view of what these look like... from the side the enemy sees with open firing slit...

[joe campbell]

enjoyed the pix in the lounge!

is there any legal danger from picking this stuff up?

is there any physical danger from the UXB (ordnance)?

thanks!

joe

[Chris Boonzaier]

enemy slide with the slit closed...

[Chris Boonzaier]

side curves out towards the enemy

[Chris Boonzaier]

The back...

[Chris Boonzaier]

details of the knob to close the firing slit and a hook, I am not sure what it is for...

[Chris Boonzaier]

enjoyed the pix in the lounge!

is there any legal danger from picking this stuff up?

is there any physical danger from the UXB (ordnance)?

thanks!

joe

←

Hi,

if you get caught, it can be nasty, but they usually just bust the balls of folks taking live munition.

Stick grenades have a toxic explosive, but, as I learned recently, they are not watertight, so the fuse and explosives are usually totally water logged. I made sure not to touch it as I scraped it out.

There was a lot of live heavy shells... me no touchee sht like that.

To get caught lugging a shield through the forest would probably get you some kind of fine as the foresters look out for such obvious souvenier hunting.

I was however given this one by a forester as I stopped off to say goodbye on my way home... call it French hospitality

[Tony]

Was you wearing your lucky t-shirt again?

I picked one up a couple of years ago which still has traces of the original paint but just don't know where to keep it. It's been on the balcony since then.

Tony

[Chris Boonzaier]

Never go there without the lucky T-Shirt

They are a bugger to display eh!!! I had 2-3 possibilities in mind on the way home... but none were practicle in the end.....

[JensF.]

I think you found the shield at the same place where I found mine Its the same type of shield; I think model 1916. The small hook under the lever for the armored lid of the firing slot was used to attach the foot while carrying the shield.

[Chris Boonzaier]

Hi Jens,

I cheated... Daniel gave me this one.. I did not have to carry it through the mud, just from his garage to my car ;-)

[Paul R]

Chris,

Awesome find! I have not seen too many of those in any condition!!

Paul

[Chris Boonzaier]

They are suprisingly no so expensive, I guess because not a lot of folks have a way to display them.

A US dealer had 3 variations for about $200 -250 a pop. I would bought them all... but postage woulda killed me. I know a dealer here wih 2 for EUR150 a piece. Its a joke when you compare them to the prices of other things.

[Paul R]

Here is something else that I dont see everyday... A protective breast plate. This one is for sale for about 850 dollars. How rare are these? I bet that this and that trench shield would make an awesome machine gun nest display if one had the manniquins and area to set it up!

http://www.germanmilitaria.com/Imperial/photos/G00551.html

Paul

[JensF.]

Here is mine as it was found 1500 m north of Fort Douaumont.

The "Grabenpanzer" or "Sappenpanzer" is very rare, especially in that condition. I would consider 800 $ as a "normal" price for a complete one in good condition. But don't forget the helmet armor shield

Edited September 28, 2005 by JensF.

[JensF.]

Lid and foot are moveable. Good german steel...

[Tony]

As we're showing off our sniper shields.....

Jens, do you which type of shield this is?

The flaps at the sides still move nicely, I think those turned handles are great and I believe the greeny grey colour is original.

Tony

[JensF.]

Wow... I never saw this type. I don't even think it is german. Sorry, but I can't help you with this one.

[Tony]

That's a shame, I wonder if it's French.

Tony

[Chris Boonzaier]

I think it may be a german one, the curved forward sides seem to be a feature to these.

There was a US dealer who bought a museum in Belgium and had many WW1 things on his site, including 3 variation shields, one similar to this one. he did not know for sure if they were german either.....

Anyone have a field photo of these in use?

Thanks

Chis

[Stogieman]

Hey Jens! Welcome aboard! Very cool topic. One of my favorite "kid" memories was reading over and over a paperback, profusely illustrated book about WW1...... it had an entire section on Verdun with tons of pix of debris, bones, ordnance, etc. still lying around. Fascinating then and still today! Very cool!

[JensF.]

Thanks stogie! Do you still have this book?

[Chris Boonzaier]

Hi Jens,

Do youi have photos of your shield ? have you cleaned it?

[JensF.]

Hi Chris,

you mean new pics? I haven't cleaned it and I will keep it as it is. Only a little bit with a wire brush to remove the loose rust. But I made the opening/lid usable. It took me 30 min. Good german steel...