Memorabilia

French WWI Headgear Lot: Chasseurs Alpins Beret, Artillery Officer Sidecap, & Zouave Fez

Classic Chasseur Alpins 'tarte' oversized beret of midnight blue wool.  This example has a red grenade de bataillon insignia rather than the Chasseur hunting horn insignia.  Also has a brass faux bullion unit numeral "9".  The thick wool beret body has extensive moth tracking, and a dime size hole in the top along the edge.  The Artillery Officer Sidecap of horizon blue wool has red wool branch of service trim, with bullion soutache Chef de Bataillon rank insignia on the front.  Interior has blue silk sweatband that still bears the original paper size tag.  Zouave Fez is of thick red wool with some stains and light tracking; interior has brown leather sweatband with a legible issue stamp.  Several inches of stitching have given way and the lower edge is soiled from use as you would expect from normal service.  $200 - $300

French WWI M2 Gas Mask & Carrier

Model 1916 treated canvas and padded gauze gas mask has blue painted metal bezels for the amber isinglass eye lenses, both of which remain intact, and olive brown elastic head harness straps.  Brown gas-proof treated fabric remains pliable, and is marked with size "TAILLE ORDINAIRE" on the reverse side of one corner.  The black adhesive substance around the interior of the lenses that always remains slightly tacky even after 100 years has migrated to the lenses and mostly obscured them.  Carrier is heavily stained from the gas-proof treatment soaking through (as they nearly always are), and from field service.  Interior has pocket for an extra lens.  After trying many different experimental masks, the M2 was the backbone of the French gas protection efforts through the end of the war, remaining in service even after the German-style ARS was placed in service in 1918.  In addition to French troops, many of the first A.E.F. soldiers were issued M2 masks, and later the M2 was issued as reserve masks for front line troops.

$400 - $600

French WWI Tampon P Gas Mask Carrier With Gas Defense Goggles

29.5cm x 17cm (11-3/4" x 6-5/8") rectangular horizon blue treated fabric carrier has brown cloth interior and is divided into two compartments.  This closes with a flap and twill tape loops, and has brown twill tape attachment loops at either side.  Contains a set of gas defense goggles such with a brown rubberized fabric pad mounted by two metal eye bezels with isinglass lenses such as you see on the later M2 gas mask.  One of these lenses is intact, the other broken.  Interior has white felt lining and the sides have white twill tape attachment ties.  Lacks the chemically-treated fabric pad mask portion of this lashup.

Issued to French soldiers from late 1915, the Tampon P (“Pad P”) was a chemically-treated fabric pad intended to protect against chlorine gas attack. The second version carrier introduced a dedicated compartment for gas defense goggles, reflecting evolving threat conditions and the importance of full facial protection. This equipment remained in primary service through early 1916 until more advanced mask designs supplanted it. In April 1916, the Tampon P and its variations—including the Tampon TN—were phased out and replaced by the French M2 gas mask, which offered enhanced protection, durability, and improved vision for soldiers exposed to a wide range of chemical weapons. The M2, initially produced with a single rectangular viewing piece, was upgraded to two circular eyepieces and saw widespread use with French, American, British, and other Allied troops until late in World War I.

$500 - $700

French WWI Trench Weapon Lot: M1916 Trench Knife & ‘Clou Français’ Improvised Knife

M.1916 trench knife is 28cm overall with 17cm double-edged blade that is good overall with very light age toning and blemishes; ricasso has "Astier-Prodon Thiers" manufacturer's stamp with cloverleaf trademark.  Hilt has crossguard with one end bent forward, no doubt to achieve a better grip with the thumb, and a good one piece contoured walnut grip.  Steel scabbard has dark oxidation spots and light pitting.  There are better than a dozen different manufacturers of the M.1916 knife, making a quest for the different makers of this trench knife a favorite 'collection within a collection' pursuit for many of us! 

French WWI ‘Clou Francais’ trench knife which is 31.5cm (12-3/8") overall, fashioned from random scrap steel with a flat, dull blade suitable primarily for stabbing, has dark oxidized patina and shows pitting.  This is currently housed in an improvised wood scabbard. 

$200 - $300

Interesting mixed lot, features a French WWI ‘Clou Francais’ trench knife which is 24cm (9-3/8") overall, fashioned from random scrap steel with a flat double-edge blade and rounded point.  Also includes two sets of commercial cast iron fighting knuckles and a concealed blade swagger stick.  This particular example is a mating of a French Lebel bayonet and scabbard with the brass grip portion from the hilt of a German S.71 bayonet.  The cruciform blade remains full-length at 50.8cm (~20").  $200 - $300

French WWI Bayonets Lot of Three: Two Lebel and One Berthier, Two With Frogs

Two Lebel Model 1886/93/15 Bayonets, one with white metal alloy hilt and the other with the brass alloy hilt.  The brass alloy example has 52cm (20-3/8") quadrilateral blade blade with light age toning and blemishes, has scabbard with dark age spots, complete with brown leather belt frog.  The white metal example has 52cm quadrilateral blade also with dark age spots, complete with scabbard in comparable condition.

M1892 bayonet for the Mannlicher Berthier rifle is the second pattern with wartime modified quillon.  Has fullered blade in excellent polish, retaining 90% matte finish, distinctive second pattern muzzle ring extends back over the grips, and the hooked quillon has been shortened as was done during WWI.  Hilt has nice two-piece wood grips and functional press stud.  Scabbard retains traces of finish blending with a dark age patina and is complete with a good black leather belt frog.

$200 - $300

French WWI Bayonets Lot of Three: Lebel, Gras, and Berthier

Lebel Model 1886/ Bayonet has white metal alloy hilt with hook quillon, 52cm (20-3/8") quadrilateral blade blade with dark age blemishes and areas of light pitting, complete with scabbard.  M1874 Gras bayonet is 64.4cm overall, has 52.3cm T-back blade in good condition with gray patina and light blemishes throughout, inspector poinçons at the ricasso.  Spine has script marking from the state arsenal St. Étienne dated 1881.  Hilt has steel guard with gray patina, notched muzzle ring and forward-swept hook quillon stamped with inspector marks and serial number.  Wood scale grips have normal light dings and service wear, and brass pommel has steel locking bolt spring and press stud attachment.  Scabbard has good blued finish.  M1892 Berthier bayonet for the Mannlicher Berthier rifle is the first pattern with the shorter muzzle ring and black composition grips.  Has blade which is fullered both on the sides and for a distance from the tip on the spine - in very good condition with only light age blemishes throughout, inspector stamps on the ricasso.  Hilt has black composition grips secured by two small rivetsPommel has some 'salt-and-pepper' pitting and a bit of rust on one side of the guard.  Hooked quillon has accountability number which does not match that on the scabbard, as is almost always the case.

$200 - $300

French Model 1896 Cavalry officer's sword has "Manufacture Nationale d'Armes de Chatellerault" 1914 dated maker engraving on the spine.  Blade is in very nice condition, retains leather scabbard washer at the ricasso.  Cast brass basket hilt has floral designs, and the leather covered ribbed wood grip has wire wrap intact.  Complete with scabbard.  $300 - $500

French Lebel M1886/93 Rifle 

Made at St. Etienne Arsenal, M1886/93 rifle has matching numbers on the stock and receiver, mismatched bolt, and the left side of the receiver has faint St. Entienne Arsenal stamp along with "M1886" and "M 93". Bluing is 70%+ on the receiver mixed with dark patina, thinning considerably on the barrel. Barrel has receiver ring which is marked with a capital "N" over the chamber denoting that the rifle has an enlarged chamber throat to accommodate the same ammunition as the Hotchkiss machine gun. Bore exhibits deep rifling but is dark and dirty. Lower bayonet mounting tenon is missing from the underside of the barrel near the muzzle.  Stock shows normal service dings and blemishes, stamped on the buttstock with matching serial number. A decent representative example of the classic French infantry rifle. FFL required; US sales only.

$200 - $300

French WWI M1916 Berthier Rifle

Caliber 8 mm Lebel, 78 cm round barrel, bore good with strong rifling, serial number "16894", matching except for the bolt, receiver side marked "St. Etienne Mle. M1916", retains ~70% blued finish, bolt finished white with age toning and spots of light rust.  Light colored wood stock has numerous dings and dents with dark stained areas, fitted with a five round capacity external magazine.  Production of the M1916 began in the summer of 1918 with finished rifles arriving in the hands of French troops during the last few months of the war.  US sales only, FFL required.  

The Model 1916 Berthier rifle represents a significant advancement over the earlier M1907/15 variant, most notably through the adoption of a five-round en-bloc magazine in place of the previous three-round system. This modification greatly improved sustained fire capability and reduced vulnerability during reloading in combat. A spring-loaded trapdoor was added to the magazine base, minimizing the ingress of trench debris. Further refinements included a short wooden upper handguard for improved handling and, on some examples, radium-painted sights to enhance night-time target acquisition. These improvements responded directly to the challenges of trench warfare and contributed to the Berthier rifle’s effectiveness in World War I service.

$200 - $300

30cm (~11-3/4") in length, tooled steel cup with slotted shaft to affix it to the Lebel rifle.  Dark overall patina with heavy pitting, likely an excavated example or old battlefield recovery piece.  That said, it displays well and is in good condition for either of those circumstances.  Used by the French, Americans and Belgians, the VB grenade and launcher was a highly successful weapons system that played havoc on German positions.  $100 - $200

Inert, each is 18cm (~7") long overall with 'cement mixer' profile body, sheet metal fin assembly, and zinc fuze assembly.  One example retains ~50% original light olive finish blending with patina; second example has a blue-green painted finish with the zinc components painted black.  $100 - $150

Includes a nice inert example of the VB rifle grenade, one that has been fired and exploded, and a sectionalized training example showing the inner workings of the VB.  $150 - $250

Mle. 1915 OF1 tinned iron offensive grenade has the second generation, 1916 impact fuze complete with brass safety cap.  Body retains original 70% red painted finish.  The second Mle. 1915 OF1 tinned iron offensive grenade has traces of blue-gray painted finish and has the M1916 Billant igniter complete with pull ring safety.  Third is a nice segmented iron Citron Foug grenade which has dark age patina.  Top has original tinned iron safety cap which lifts to reveal wooden fuze plug with a push-button detonator.  You see plenty of Citron Foug grenades on the market, and even a few with the wooden detonator housing, examples complete with the tinned iron safety cap are much more scarce.  

$300 - $400

Pre-war Mle. 1847 Spherical Grenade is a 3-1/8" diameter smooth, spherical cast iron body differentiated only from its 1914 cousin by the fact that the fuze aperture is not threaded.  The 1847 used an even more basic fuze than the 1914, which is represented here with a dummy example for display.  The Bertrand Suffocante Grenade Mle. 1915 is constructed of six identical curved iron segments cast with holes in the center and channels for the wire that combines them into a sphere.  They originally englobed a glass vial containing chloroacetone, which ideally burst when thrown against a hard surface, mixed with the atmosphere, and created enough tear gas to encourage the enemy to abandon their bunkers and other hidey-holes during a trench raid.  This example has no finish remaining, oxidized patina throughout, with replaced wire and lacks the glass vial.  Most on the market today (including this one, in my opinion) are assembled from parts recovered at the spots where the Poilu discreetly disposed of them, a transgression preferable to having them break open accidentally in their own grenade bag, which period accounts suggest was not an uncommon annoyance.  Finally, this example of the Mle. 1916 Suffocating grenade is even more interesting than usual.  Top has brass collar which allowed the use of different plug ignitors, none of which are currently installed, but rather a copper tube through which a lamp wick is passed, allowing for this to function as an ersatz dugout oil lamp.

$300 - $400

French WWI Grenade Lot: Eight Grenades

Seven French WWI hand grenades, all inert.  Includes a VB rifle grenade, Model 1915 F1 Defensive grenade, 'Citron Foug' Mle. 1916 Grenade, Suffocating grenade Mle. 1916, Bertrand Suffocante Grenade Mle. 1915, barbed wire destruction rod, and '3rd Army' Petard grenade.

VB rifle grenade has traces of blackened finish, exterior appears to have been lacquered.

Model 1915 F1 Defensive grenade has segmented cast iron body with dark patina, fitted with a Mle. 1916 Billant igniter which is shorn flush just past the threads.

Citron Foug Mle.1916 grenade of segmented iron has white painted finish and a portion of the wood plug detonator assembly. 

Mle. 1916 Suffocating grenade has leaded iron body with central raised ridge, worn dark olive finish, and top with brass collar that allowed the use of a number of different plug igniters, none of which are currently installed.

Bertrand Suffocante Grenade Mle. 1915 is constructed of six identical curved iron segments cast with holes in the center and channels for the wire that combines them into a sphere.  They originally englobed a glass vial containing chloroacetone, which ideally burst when thrown against a hard surface, mixed with the atmosphere, and created enough tear gas to encourage the enemy to abandon their bunkers and other hidey-holes during a trench raid.  This example has no finish remaining, oxidized patina throughout, with replaced wire and lacks the glass vial.  Most on the market today (including this one, in my opinion) are assembled from parts recovered at the spots where the Poilu discreetly disposed of them, a transgression preferable to having them break open accidentally in their own grenade bag, which period accounts suggest was not an uncommon annoyance.

Explosive rod for barbed wire destruction is among a variety of the original improvised wood rod grenades, devised as the French Army sought to adapt to stagnant trench warfare, for the creation of breaches in the enemy's barbed wire prior to an assault.  It is simply a cylinder made with a rolled and riveted steel plate, plugged at the top with a wooden block, and at the base with a wooden stick . This stick was pierced with a holefor a traction igniter setting fire to a powder line cord linked to the detonator.

"Third Army" Petard Grenade is 35.5cm (14") overall with 12.5cm (5") segmented iron cylinder plugged at one end with a fuze cord and at the top, wired to a wood stack with a wire belt loop.  I believe most of these on the market are battlefield recovered original components that have been remounted to wood handles to complete them for display, this example included.

OF1 Offensive Grenade Mle. OF1 tinned iron offensive grenade has M1916 Billant igniter, retains traces of horizon blue painted finish with with dark oxidized patina on the worn areas.  These were used in trench raids and other offensives when you did not wish to leap into the cloud of heavy shrapnel released by your own grenade!  

$400-$500

WWI Canteen & Mess Gear Mixed Lot: French, British & German with French Modèle 1858 Canteen

Large lot includes a French mess kit, French ration box, two uncovered French 2-liter canteens, two uncovered French 1-liter canteens including one with an interesting modified screw cap spout closure, British blue enamel water bottle, German canteen, and modèle 1858 tinned iron canteen.  Lot also includes an uncovered German WWI canteen which has been painted black. 

$100 - $150

French WWI Soldier's Knapsack & Contents Lot

An excellent and very comprehensive display - French WWI knapsack lacks shoulder straps but includes an abundant array of gear and personal items!  Contents include issue cup, water bucket, equipment straps, folding mirror, rifle tool, two grease tins, clothing whip, sewing kit in a leather pouch, identity papers, boot brush, fork and spoon, can opener, and trifold candle lanterin in its cloth carrier.  The lantern has some rust and oxidation.  Pack is heavily soiled but remains solid, lacking only the detachable shoulder straps.  Committee of reception stamp is visible but illegible.  A great start on a 'complete soldier' display.

$200 - $300

French WWI Equipment Mixed Lot

Includes French maker marked Linneman pattern entrenching tool, a heavily cleaned Petard Racquet Grenade (inert), soiled but good French haversack, and a tin carrier containing a reenactor's recreation of one of the early war gas defense goggles sets.  Lot also includes a simple natural linen knapsack with some modern sewn repairs; interior has a very detailed purple laundry pen inscription of a Lieutenant Edouard Hanquet with an address in Liege (Belgium). 

$100 - $150

French WWI Soldier's Personal Items & Postwar Souvenir Lot

Features a French WWI Compass In Original Pasteboard Retail Box: campaign compass by the firm of "J. Auricoste" is complete with its original pasteboard retail box.  The box has damaged lid corners, but remains intact; lid features the flags of France and her wartime allies.  Lot also includes a single ammunition pouch, cigarette case, soldier's large folding pocket knife, and a "Douk-Douk" inexpensive pocket knife.  Post-war souvenir items include a Verdun table medal, wax and ceramic 'sacred soil' mile marker souvenirs, and a commercial souvenir representation of the train car in which the Armistice was signed.  

$150 - $200

Italian WWI French Made Adrian Helmet

M1915 French supplied Adrian helmet retains 70% dark Italian gray-green painted finish blending with patina where worn. The obverse of the body has never been pierced for a badge as is correct for the Italian contract helmets. Interior complete with an Italian made brown leather second pattern lining with interesting brown, blue, and white scrap woven wool material for the liner backing, and a leather chinstrap with buckle closure.  A very nice example of a WWI Italian helmet which, because it has no stenciled insignia, can be displayed with any uniform.

$200 - $300

Italian WWI / WWII Bayonet Lot: M1891 Truppe Speciali Carbine & M91 Carcano 

Two bayonets: first is an Italian M1891 Truppe Speciali Carbine Bayonet, dark patina on the blade and hilt, with "BRESICA" arsenal stamp on the ricasso and accountability markings on the crossguard.  Includes fluted steel scabbard also with dark patina.

Second is a Model 91 Carcano bayonet with leather scabbard; bayonet has dark blued blade in good condition.  Hilt is also nice with good wood grips and nice finish on the guard and pommel, accountability markings on the crossguard.  Leather scabbard is in good condition but is missing the throat attachment screw.  This scabbard is dated 1942.  $100-$150

Includes a BPD grenade, an Italian/French WWI Besozzi grenade

Italian WWI BPD Grenade, inert, excavated or recovered example.  Introduced in late 1915 / early 1916, the Bombrini-Parodi-Delfino has a thick cast iron unsegmented cylindrical body with large threaded iron cap, fitted with a percussion activated time fuze.  Dark oxidized patina with pitting, some material loss on the thin metal portion of the cap, and it has an old collection identification label written on the side in white lettering, which should be removable with a solvent if you choose, though that may leave a discolored area.

Italian / French WWI Besozzi Grenade, inert.  This is a pre-war Italian grenade that was imported by France at the beginning of the war, then manufactured in France under license after the Italy joined the party in May 1915.  Externally segmented body has threaded plug hole in the base and a hole in the top on the side through which a red phosphorous tipped time match fuze extended.  That has been filed with wax and solder for some reason, fuze is no longer present.

Stick Grenade is 39cm (15-1/4") long, with a 38.5mm (1-33/64") diameter wood shaft and a 43.1mm (1-45/64") x 14cm (5-1/2") segmented iron warhead mounted by nails to the top.  The top of this is threaded for a cap which is no longer present.  Retains traces of original olive finish on the warhead, and a fair amount on the stick.  Our consignor had this labeled as Italian.  I have not been able to confirm that in my references, though I could easily be overlooking it.  The light olive finish is very suggestive of Italian equipment.

$200 - $300

Italian WWI Model 1907 Wooden Canteen

Wooden keg style canteen with iron bands and gray-green canvas and leather strap stained dark from use. Complete with wooden stopper retained by a short cord.  Base has a maker stamp that is no longer legible and carved initials.  

$100 - $150

Portuguese Kropatschek M1886 Rifle

8mm Infantry rifle made under contract by OE.W.F.G. (Österreichische Waffenfabriksgesellschaft) in Steyr, Austria.  Has serial number "1129" on the receiver, with mismatched bolt.  Receiver is marked with this manufacturer and "M1886", as well as a crown over "LI" designating King Louis I of Porgugal.  Bluing has thinned considerably, with traces remaining, mixed with dark patina and spots of very light rust.  Stock is dark with numerous dings and scrapes.  Round Portuguese issue and acceptance stamps are faint but visible on the left and right butt. Bore still has strong rifling but is dark and dirty.

$200 - $300