Sold Gallery
These pages display a number of the rare items that I have had the pleasure of selling. To view more details and a larger photograph please click on the thumbnail picture.
IMPERIAL GERMAN REGIMENT 74 OR 77 OFFICERS PICKELHAUBE.
A rare all leather officer's pickelhaube worn by an officer in either Hanoverian Regiment 74, 77 or 78. All leather skull with minor crazing and slight shrinkage to the leather around the circular spike base. The gilt to the back strap, removable tall officers spike, circular spike base, Prussian helmet plate with Waterloo scroll and flat front chin scales all matching in colour and condition. The helmet is complete with its officers national and state cockades. To the interior the green canvas like cloth behind the front peak and the red matching material behind the rear peak all intact. The leather sweat band does retain much original colour and has evidence of service use as does the grease stains to the upper inner section of the artificial silk inner liner and it is lightly shredded in places. These three infantry regiments all have the right to wear the Waterloo scroll on their helmet plates due to their participation at the battle of Waterloo in 1815.
GERMAN RAD OFFICERS HEAVYWEIGHT CAP.
An scarce officers cap of the RAD, these are sometimes referred to as the Robin Hood cap due to their style. Most officers and other ranks caps are of pressed felt, however this is one of the rare examples made in a four pieced crowned heavy Tricot wool. The quality of the hat is extremely good and has the side air vents. The aluminium piping throughout is excellent and to the front there is a good matching officers RAD wire and silk embroidered badge. The lining of the cap is of a golden four piece silk configuration with a high quality leather headband. This hat has seen service and although it is in good overall condition with no moth damage there is considerable sweat and grease staining to the lining, clearly indicating that this officer saw much active duty. The RAD is an interesting unit and it actually did fight in combat operations and was engaged in many theatres of war including opposite British airborne troops at Arnhem, several units of the RAD were called into service and fought as foot infantry during this operation. A wonderful example of a classic piece of Third Reich headdress.
GERMAN THIRD REICH PIONEER OFFICERS TUNIC, IDENTIFIED WITH PAPERWORK.
Very rarely within the Third Reich artefacts is it possible to personally identify the item, whether it be a medal or an item of uniform. We have obtained a four pocket combat tunic coming from the Estate of Herbert Baeder, who was a Oberleutnant within Pioneer Battalion 45, part of the 72nd Infantry Division. The tunic is the basic four pocket officers M.36 style with four patch pockets, all with pleats, deep turned back barrel cuffs, five button front. It is constructed of a lighter weight unlined material similar to tropical cloth but of a style worn either in Southern Italy or the hotter southern areas of Russia. The colour of the material has faded beautifully under the hot sun and through washing leaving the covered areas of the tunic i.e., underneath the pocket flaps, behind the deep barrel cuffs, underneath the shoulder boards, underneath the collar and behind the closing flap of the tunic with its original light grey green. The fading is identical to Africa tropical tunics we have had in the past that have seen significant service. The tunic has the standard dark green officers collar. It is fitted with a well worn set and slightly oxidised pioneer officers collar patches with black centres, some threads missing. A matching well worn set of black wool underlay Oberleutnants shoulder boards. The medal ribbons fitted are the Iron Cross 2nd Class and the East Front ribbon. On lifting these ribbons back the material is shaded below. Interestingly the tunic was, when new, fitted with an enlisted ranks machine woollen embroidered breast eagle on a dark green wool background. Some of the edging of the eagle has broken away revealing the original colour of the tunic below the eagle. There is one canvas inside pocket and a hole has been tailored through the front left hand pocket for the attachment of the sword or dagger straps with the original Assmann DRGM marked clip attached to the interior of the tunic. With this tunic there is a large file of paperwork relating to the service of Oberleutnant Baeder, also a photograph of him wearing this self same tunic when it would appear to have been before seeing field service. The application of the enlisted ranks breast eagle can completely be seen. He is seated, hatless, wearing the Iron Cross 1st Class above the General Assault Badge and the loops are fitted to the tunic for the same badges. It would appear that later he won a further award and two extra loops have been fitted, which are not shown in the photograph. The tunic also was without the Eastern Front ribbon. He is wearing the tunic with the rank of Leutnant without the rank pips for Oberleutnant. We have only been able to obtain minor research to his service, much of the paperwork relates to training, however he did see service in Southern Italy and Southern Russia. There is a good file of documentation relating to his Old Comrades unit in the 1970's and 1980's. Much further research on this individual would be possible.
GERMAN MG42 LAFETTE MOUNTAIN TROOPERS MOUNT.
A very rare item of German weapon equipment being the three legged mount known as the Lafette, for the mounting of the MG42 machine gun with deliberate modifications for use by mountain troopers. The mount in general is the standard MG42 mount with two rear legs and one front leg. Top flat plate and is complete with its optic sight mounting block, which is also a scarce item to obtain, the huge difference is the two back legs. The standard legs are fitted to the main frame and just swivel backwards and forwards. The mountain troopers modification ensures that the legs not only swing backwards and forwards but they have a further locking system which enables the legs to be spread sidewards away from the frame, so that the gun can be mounted in confined mountain crevices. We last had one of these over 20 years ago when we found one in amongst a group of 50, which came from the old East European Czech Republic just before 1989. It has suffered lightly from some corrosion but has not been immersed in water. The two front leather pads have been recovered and the whole item has been repainted, however all of its functions work. The remains of the ranging plate are still fitted to the rear of the sight. The original numbers have been picked out in white paint. Another feature of the mount that is unique to the mountain troopers variation mount is that the legs have an extension capability of much longer than the standard 42 mount. The legs are held in by a unique sprung loaded system, with the standard mount the legs are released to a certain length only by a lever of a sprung loaded catch. Plus, finally, the bases of the legs are more severely serrated than the standard mount legs for greater grip in the mountain terrain A very rare item of Third Reich mountain troopers equipment.
GERMAN THIRD REICH SS PANZER ENLISTED MANS OVERSEAS CAP.
A very good size 56 enlisted ranks Panzer SS overseas cap. Standard boat shape construction. The nap of the cloth to the exposed areas slightly thin. When turning down the side curtains of the cap the original nap can be seen. There is no moth damage, either moth holes or moth tracking, on any part of this cap. There is sweat staining, which has perforated from the interior of the forehead area to the exterior of the cap and has affected the lower region of the Bevo woven SS skull. It has its matching Bevo woven SS cap eagle. The interior black cotton weave lining is all intact. The wear to both front and sides of the lining material are conversant with field wear, sweat has left a wave pattern to the lining. Size 56 size stampings. This is the classic SS Panzer mans overseas cap.
GERMAN THIRD REICH ARMY PANZER MANS WRAP OVER TUNIC.
An exceptionally good condition Army black Panzer mans wrap over tunic. The nap of cloth is superb overall, no moth or damage. The jacket has been shortened from a four button closure front to a three button, we would estimate that over the many years in business we have had more of the shortened jackets than of jackets in their original format, this was done by the soldiers, by their local company or regimental tailors. Standard wrap over format, adjustable sleeves, insignia worn are a pair of silk pink piped shoulder boards, stitch-in style, with matching pink silk piped collar patches with matching aluminium skulls fitted. To the left sleeve as the tunic is worn is a double rank chevron, indicating Obergefreiter rank with less than 6 years service. To the right lower breast as the tunic is worn is the Bevo woven white on black Panzer style breast eagle. There are two slight nicks to the cloth, one just above the eagle and one on the upper right shoulder as the tunic is worn where local repairs have been made. The tunic is lined in the more commonly encountered grey semi ribbed cotton lining material. Maker marked 'Romei', size stamped and depot coded 'H40'. Loops to the lower front breast for three awards.
GERMAN THIRD REICH SCARCE CANVAS MP40 SLING.
One of the hardest accessories to find for the MP40, the wartime produced economy type sling being of typical Afrika Korps like webbing material with the metal sliding adjuster and brown leather loop attachment with original large stud in place. The whole item is in lightly used wonderfully patinated condition with just a few minor rust spots and a little yellowing from age and storage. This item would greatly set off a wartime MP40.
GERMAN THIRD REICH OFFICERS DOE SKIN GLOVES.
A most magnificent pair of grey officers doe skin gloves. Superb condition, complete with their double male/female wrist closure stud system. One of the pair of gloves is 'Berlin' maker stamped to the interior and stamped size '8'.
WWII GERMAN PANZER HEADPHONE SET.
A super complete set consisting of headphones with both rubber cushions as well as leather covering to the steel head strap. Original cords complete with plug. These are complimented by the throat mic set with original wires and presel set. Numerous markings and paint stampings. The whole set is in lightly used great condition.
WWI RAF FIRST PATTERN CAP.
A super deluxe version that probably started out life as an RNAS cap that probably have subsequently been used for early RAF duties. The crown being of fine khaki wool having the lower body in black Melton with mohair band and early RAF guilt and bullion insignia with an interesting bird device to the centre being slightly different from later versions. The original patent chin strap is present with correct rounded buckles. The peak being of crazed patent and having a circular quilted interior. Completely untouched First World War aviators cap.