French WWI Uniform & Equipment: A Nearly Complete Mannequin-Ready Infantry Poilu Display

French WWI Uniform & Equipment: A Nearly Complete Mannequin-Ready Infantry Poilu Display

Our consignor had this nicely displayed on a mannequin in his collection room, and it was indeed impressive!  French horizon blue wool service coat and unpiped blue-gray breeches, with horizon blue wool wrap puttees, shoes, and a nice Infantry Adrian helmet.  The The shoes have been resoled and are marked with US size "7-1/2EE" on the soles, with heel rims attached by modern screws, and smooth soles.  Several of the grommets are loose due to verdigris development.  The coat has several different issue stamps and committee of reception stamp that is faint but appears to be dated 1918.  Wool has a few small holes but is in very good overall condition, displayed with a wound medal.  The breeches appear to be private purchase and are unmarked.  His M1915 Adrian has an Infantry badge, second pattern brown leather liner and a broken chinstrap.  Equipment includes a brown leather combat waistbelt with roller buckle and 'Y' strap; 1893/14 box frame knapsack has leather fittings that are dry and have cracks in the surface, holding together for the moment but care and caution will need to be exercised in handling them.  Pack is currently mounted by the mess kit, and blanket roll with (a simple US WWI blanket) wrapped in a very scruffy, battered, ripped and torn up French shelter section with visible 1918 dated committee of reception stamp, secured by a combination of the French long equipment strap and two incorrect replacement Italian straps.  Lot further includes a chau-chat ammunition bag which contained a speciality badge and an issue sewing kit spool.  There is also a worn, period correct (though not military) scarf that the consignor had around his neck on the mannequin, and an ARS gas mask in the normal 'crispy' condition that describes 99.9% of these that we find.  

$500 - $800