Memorabilia

Prussian WWI Artillery Saber

Curved, fullered blade has some light age spots and discoloration from grease in the scabbard, as well as a few very minor edge nicks.  Spine at the ricasso has Prussian crown proof and 1910 date.  Steel hilt is dark with patina; ribbed composition grip remains intact.  Includes darkened steel scabbard that shows numerous scuffs and dents from service.  Scabbard and sword hilt both feature the same Foot Artillery unit markings. 

$200 - $300

5-7/8" double-edged blade in very nice condition, has ricasso with circular (though a strike that is only partially legible) "DEMAG / DUISBURG" maker's trademark and reverse "DRGM".  Distinctive crossguard has slightly forward-swept quillon and short muzzle rest, retains black painted finish.  Two-piece stamped metal 'crank' handle retains 90%+ feldgrau finish.  Pommel has functional press stud and bayonet mounting mortise.  Complete with scabbard retaining 50% black painted finish blending with patina.  Has a  good pliable leather belt loop and retaining strap with 'Prym' snap.  Excellent example.  $200 - $300

First example is 11" overall with a 6" double-sided blade engraved with maker's patriotic vignette at the ricasso.  Has recurved guard and stag handle grip, lacks pommel cap.  Complete with a standard black painted steel scabbard with brown leather belt loop and retaining strap with Prym snap.  

Second is 11" overall with a 5-3/4" blade which shows signs of normal sharpening.  Has recurved iron guard and a nice stag handle grip.  Complete with a standard steel scabbard retaining traces of black painted finish, mounted by brown leather belt loop and retaining strap with Prym snap.  $200 - $300

Imperial German WWI Bayonet Lot: S.14 by Bayard and Metal Ersatz Bayonet

Two Imperial German WWI bayonets.  First example is a scarce S.14 bayonet by Bayard of Liège Belgium.  43cm (16-7/8") overall; blade in good condition has a few light blemishes, with the square-end fullers associated with Bayard produced S.14 bayonets; ricasso has maker knight on horseback trademark with "BAYARD", spine has Imperial inspection stamp.  Hilt has oval crossguard with short muzzle rest.  Two-piece wood scale grips show normal light wear.  Hilt has moderate pitting on the pommel and guard.  Scabbard has blackened finish.  Orders for the Seitengewehr 1914 were placed in October / November 1914 when the Kaiser's Army was scrambling to acquire an estimated one million extra bayonets to equip the rapidly expanding ranks.

Second is a simple metal hilt ersatz bayonet; 43cm (~17") overall with an unfullered blade that shows light age spots throughout.  Hilt has crossguard with open top muzzle ring and a crown over "W" marking on the side.  Scabbard has plumb patina where it was exposed and traces of feldgrau finish visible where it was once protected by a belt frog.  $200 - $300

Includes example by Hugo Köller, 17cm (10-3/4") overall with 'coffin' style two-piece wood grips and contoured oval steel guard.  Blade is nice with maker stamp near the ricasso, retains original leather scabbard washer, and has light age spots.  Scabbard is also nice, metal portion retains 60% black painted finish blending with patina, with brown leather belt loop and retaining strap closing with a steel 'Prym' snap.  

Second example is by Ernst Busch: 18cm (11-1/8") overall, double-edged blade with a few light age spots, steel guard, and contoured wood two-piece grip scales which retain traces of black painted finish.  Steel scabbard has 50% black finish blending with patina, suspended from a simple brown leather belt loop with no provision for a retaining strap.  $200 - $300

Imperial German WWI S.98 Bayonet Lot of Two w/ Rare Early Wrap-Around Grip

Two Imperial German S.98 bayonets, both from Erfurt Arsenal.  First is a rather nice example of the early version of this bayonet which incorporated a single piece wrap-around grip.  These were prone to breaking and were discontinued after just a few years of production.  68cm (25-5/8") overall, fullered quillback blade in nice condition with light scattered age spots, crown and "ERFURT" marking on the ricasso, Prussian crown proof and "01" date on the spine.  Hilt has darker patina.  Walnut grip is stained from use but does not exhibit any of the common cracks or damage that prompted an adjustment to the design of the S.98.  Crossguard and scabbard throat have mismatched unit markings.  The bayonet is marked to JR 52; the scabbard to JR 57.  Scabbard remains in good condition with stitching intact, though age constriction of the leather leaves a short closure gap with the bayonet.

Second S.98 is also from Erfurt; 65cm (25-1/2"), fullered blade in good condition with light sharpening marks, spine has Prussian crown proof with "07" date.  Hilt has light age patina, the updated two-piece walnut scale grips, and Imperial inspection marks on the pommel.  Scabbard has gray patina and age spots on the metal fittings, leather is nice with stitching intact.

$200 - $300

First is the etsatz style steel hilt combination trench knife bayonet 25cm (9-3/4") overall - looks GREAT displayed in the scabbard, but when removed you realize that this was a well-loved knife, as it has been sharpened down to the nubbins, with a dulled tip, dark gray patina interrupted by dark pits and blemished.  Ricasso has a crown over "3", no further markings on the piece.  Hilt has an iron crossguard with rearward swept quillon and sheet steel grip riveted together with a mortise and lug lock in the pommel.  Grip retains traces of feldgrau painted finish blending with patina.  Scabbard has 30% black painted finish, brown leather belt loop and broken retaining strap.  

Second example is a faux bayonet style trench knife; 26cm (10-1/4") overall, clip point blade with dark age spots and heavily sharpened, marked "NAHKAMPFER" (Close Combat) on the ricasso.  Hilt has rearward-swept quillon on the guard, checkered black horn grip scales, one of which is damaged and has a repair that is functional, if not quite aesthetically satisfactory.  Pommel has functional mortise and button.  Black painted steel scabbard has dark brown leather belt loop and Prym snap on the retaining strap.  $200 - $300

Fullered blade in excellent condition has only very light age spots.  Sawback spine has Prussian crown proof and "74" date; ricasso has "W.R. KIRSCHBAUM / SOLINGEN" arched maker stamp.  This example has brass hilt with functional press spring attachment.  Guard is marked to the Saxon 107th Infantry Regiment.  Black leather scabbard with brass throat and drag remains functional despite a fair amount of stitching that has given way; retains a black leather belt frog.  Throat and guard remain parted from a flush fit by 2-3mm due to leather constriction, throat reverse has matching Saxon Infantry Regiment 107 unit marking "107.R.1.138".  $200 - $300

Imperial German S.98/05  n/A Bayonet Lot: One Sawback & One Sawback Removed

Sawback S.98/05 has blade with some light age spots, sawtooth spine has an Imperial inspection proof but was not dated.  Ricasso has "Dürkoppwerke" large maker's logo stamp.  Hilt has darker patina, flashguard, and good two-piece walnut scale grips.  Complete with blued steel scabbard.

Second example is also by Dürkoppwerke, likely reworked in the Weimar era.  Blade retains 50% blued finish.  It has been sharpened extensively and has several noticeable nicks in the edge.  Sawback feature has been removed from the spine; any date or inspector marks were likely lost during this process.  Ricasso has "Dürkoppwerke" large maker's logo stamp.  Hilt has dark patina, flashguard, and good two-piece walnut scale grips.  Blued steel scabbard has ~30% finish blending with patina.  $200 - $300

First is Carter #3, 44cm (~17-1/8") overall, unmarked fullered blade in nice condition with just a few light age spots.  Hilt has stepped guard with open top dual use muzzle ring, marked with accountability number on one side, and retains traces of feldgrau painted finish blending with patina.  Includes dark steel scabbard made with lines along the sides in imitation of a leather scabbard.  

Second is Carter #47, 42.5cm (~16-3/4") overall, unmarked fullered blade in nice condition, pressed sheet steel hilt has rearward swept quillon, dual use open top muzzle ring, and grip which retains ~50% feldgrau painted finish.  Steel scabbard has a slightly different shade of feldgrau paint.

Third is Carter #34, 43cm (~16-15/16") overall, unmarked fullered blade has dark gray patina, with blemishes and age spots.  Steel hilt has guard with open top muzzle ring that is uniquely stepped backwards toward the muzzle, steel grip is rectangular in nature with flat sides.  Retains faint traces of feldgrau finish blending with dark patina.  Has accountability number stamped in the guard.  Scabbard is pressed sheet steel with pinched edges characteristic of those made by "FAG" (Friedrich August Göbel) or "SN" (Friedrich Herder A. Sn., Solingen).  This one shows no visible maker mark, but that may be obscured by an accountability or issue marking stamped on the back of the throat. $200 - $300

Imperial German WWI S.84/98 Bayonet Lot: Two Examples w/ One Sawback

First example is a nice S.84/98 bayonet has fullered blade in excellent condition.  Spine has Prussian crown proof and "17" date.  Ricasso has maker "Gebr Heller / Marienthal" maker stamp.  Pommel, guard, wood scale grips and flashguard are in the same good condition as the blade.   teel scabbard has 60% dark finish blending with patina, lighter where it was once protected by a frog.  Of this maker Carter notes "...the Heller brothers brothers produced both plain and saw-backed versions which were often undated.  A few S 84/98 mS recorded with the Erfurt Arsenal mark on the blades."  Bayonets by this firm are recorded from 1915 to 1917.  

Second is a similarly nice S.84/98 S. Sawback Bayonet by Gottlieb Hammersfahr.  Fullered sawback blade is in very good condition, spine has inspector proof, but no visible date.  Ricasso has "Gottlieb / Hammersfahr / Solingen . Foche" maker's stamp with logo.  Hilt has guard, flashguard and pommel with light age spots, walnut scale grips are also in nice shape.  Includes scabbard with Imperial proof on the frog stud, retains 80% blued finish.  $300 - $400

61cm (~24") overall, with single-edged blade that at some time in it's career has been incorrectly sharpened on both sides.  Iron hilt is cast with ribbed grip, crossguard is stamped with unit marking to the 121st Infantry Regiment, indicating issue after the army reforms of 1860 when the 3rd Württemberg was redesignated as JR 121.  The unit marking is matched on the frog stud fitting on the scabbard.  Black leather scabbard has iron throat and frog stud, with an internal concealed drag terminating in an external finial.  Leather and stitching remain intact and in good condition.  Complete with frog.  

According to Peter-Michel Wolfgang's excellent reference, in 1860, 12,847 examples of the Württemberg M1829 faschinenmesser were still in active service, with 852 in the Ulm depot and 5,251 in the arsenal.  "In the years following the Franco-Prussian war of 1870/71, the Württemberg infantry was converted to the new infantry rifle M.71, and the associated bayonet.  Thus, from this point on, the 1829 faschinenmesser was only issued to soldiers not armed with rifles during training.  However, some of these soldiers still carried it during the First World War.  $300 - $400

Sawback S.98/05 a/A has blade with a few minor age spots, sawtooth spine has an Imperial inspection proof and is dated 1914.  Ricasso has "V.C. SCHILLING / SUHL" maker stamp.  Hilt has darker patina, a/A style high muzzle rest, and no flashguard.  Walnut two-piece scale grips show light wear.  Complete with iron mounted black leather scabbard which remains in very nice condition.  

Second example has blade with light gray patina and areas of minor discolorations and light pitting.  Ricasso has "C.G. HAENEL / SUHL" maker stamp, spine has Prussian crown proof and is dated 1910.  Hilt has dark patina, a/A style high muzzle rest, and no flashguard.  Walnut two-piece scale grips show light wear and are stained dark.  Complete with iron mounted black leather scabbard which shows service dents but remains in overall good condition.  Age constriction on the leather has left a 2-3mm gap between guard and scabbard throat. $300 - $400

Imperial German Bayonet Lot: World War Ersatz Conversion of Prussian M1860 & Bavarian Dress 71/84

S.71/84 Bayonet Extra-Seitengewehr Dress Bayonet is has blade etched with decorative scrollwork and Bavarian motto, ricasso has Ricasso has Weyersberg, Kirschbaum, & Companie maker.  Unmarked spine.  Hilt has nickel finish with dark patina on the exposed areas where this finish has worn away, same on the scabbard fittings.  Black leather portion of the scabbard remains in good condition with stitching intact.

Wartime conversion of the Prussian Fusilier-Seitengewehr M1860 is of particular interest: 63.2cm (24-7/8") overall with quillback blade.  Ricasso has Prussian crown proof and "62" date, inspector proof on reverse.  The original cast brass hilt has been replaced with the hilt of a S.98 bayonet so that this blade could be mounted to weapons then in service.  Includes the correct original brass mounted black leather scabbard with unit marking to a Landwehr company of a field artillery regiment.  Stitching has given way on the back seam of the scabbard, but it remains functional.  The original unmodified version would be a scarce bayonet - the wartime ersatz conversion is doubly so, and a very interesting example!  $300 - $400

First example is classified in Anthony Carter's reference as example #53.  43.2cm (~17-1/16") overall, has unmarked fullered blade with dark patina, cast steel hilt in two halves brazed together and secured with two well-hidden rivets.  Hilt has contoured grip and is cast with diagonal ribs.  Has the open-top muzzle ring found on most ersatz bayonets that facilitates use with either the Gew.88 or Gew.98.  Includes steel scabbard with mild patina and only faint traces of a finish.  

Second is Carter #49, 43.1cm (~17") overall, unmarked fullered blade with dark patina and some minor blemishes, cast steel guard with open muzzle ring on a thick guard, marked with accountability number on the side, dual-use muzzle ring, and diagonal ribs cast into the grip.  Steel scabbard has dark patina and several large dents.  

Third is Carter #23, 44cm (~16-1/4") overall, unmarked fullered blade with dark gray patina, shows sharpening marks and blemishes.  Offset guard has dual use open muzzle ring, accountability number "3032" marked on the guard.  Includes steel scabbard with dark patina and traces of feldgrau finish.  $300 - $400

Imperial German Ersatz S.98/05 Bayonet Lot: Two Examples Including One Sawback

First is a particularly nice Ersatz S.98/05 Sawback bayonet classified in Anthony Carter's reference as example #42.  Ersatz bayonet with S.98/05 profile, 48cm overall with 36cm fullered sawback blade in very good condition with very light blemishes, has Imperial proof stamp on the spine and another (faint) one on the ricasso.  Cast steel hilt has diagonal groves along the grip portion, guard with 'double diameter' open top muzzle ring (for use on Gew.88 and 98) and a short forward-swept quillon.  Hilt has 70% field gray painted finish blending with patina.  Includes a standard 98/05 scabbard with blued finish blending with dark patina where worn. 

Second example is either #43 or #45 in Carter's reference; he specifically notes that the later examples were "so crudely finished and the fullers added so haphazardly that no two are identical."  This one definitely exemplifies the production quality that he was speaking of: blade is very poorly finished with lots of visible tool marks, gray steel patina with areas of pitting and blemishes throughout.  Cast steel hilt has darker gray patina, with a "K" making visible near the press stud.  Includes a standard 98/05 scabbard with dark patina and traces of blackened finish.  $400 - $500

17-5/8" overall, has tightly coiled spring shaft with a star mace pattern steel striker with maker initials "FKG", turned wood grip has metal ferrule and pommel cap, turned with ridges for grip and an inset channel for a leather retaining strap which is no longer present.    There are several chips and small insect holes in the wood handle, and oxidation on the spring and striker.  Nice mellow patina throughout.  We have always thought of these spring handle clubs as being Austrian devices; as the Austrians seemed to focus so much of their time and effort on building new and unique trench clubs.. but in his reference "At Arm's Length", author David Machnicki cites period photographic evidence of these clubs in use by German troops.   $600 - $800

Imperial German Gewehr 88 "Commission" Rifle

Gewehr 88/05 S (7.92×57mm S round) serial numbered "2655S".  Blued finish has thinned and blends with a dark patina.  Receiver ring is stamped "S / (crown) / Erfurt / 1890". Sheet metal covering on the clip ejection point stamped with an "E" logo over "1914." Buttstock stamped on the right side with Imperial inspection proofs.  Barrel band has crossed out German unit marking to the 24th Infantry Regiment Ersatz Battalion, 3rd Company, "24. R.E. 3. 100". Distinctive "double jag" cleaning rod is present.  Bolt is heavily greased.  Bore is just a bit dirty, with deep, sharp-twist rifling.

The Gewehr 88 marked a turning point in military firearms as Germany's first smokeless powder bolt-action repeating rifle. Adopted in 1888 in response to France’s revolutionary Lebel rifle, the Gew.88 combined a Mauser-influenced bolt action and Mannlicher-style en-bloc clip system.  Originally chambered for the round-nosed Patrone 88 cartridge, the German rifle testing commission adopted a dimensionally redesigned 7.92×57mm Mauser 'S Patrone' cartridge in 1903.  This cartridge was loaded with a pointed (spitzer) bullet and more powerful double-base smokeless powder, marking a significant improvement over the earlier round.  Gew.88 rifles in service were converted by an enlarged chamber in the barrel, thus ensuring the continued usefulness of this rifle long after it was superseded by the Gew.98.  The vast stocks of Gew.88 rifles armed second-line, colonial, and allied troops throughout World War I, supporting Germany’s rapid wartime mobilization and providing essential firepower across multiple fronts.

$200 - $300

German Gewehr 71 Mauser Rifle: Amberg Arsenal 1880

Manufactured at Amberg Arsenal in 1880, complete with all matching numbers, and marked with the "Crown / L" proof for Ludwig II of Bavaria.  Butt plate tang is has unit marking for the Bavarian 17th Infantry Regiment.  Stock shows numerous dings and scrapes but remains solid.  Interior of the chamber and underside of the bolt that rested there in storage are nice and clean, but the exterior of the metal surfaces has a light coat of rust throughout from neglect and poor storage.  Bore is dirty but shows strong rifling.  

$200 - $300

German WWI Hebel Flare Pistol

36 cm overall, 16.5 cm barrel, Hebel Pattern flare pistol has hints of blued finish blending with overall dark even patina, has some pots of light pitting.  Breech break lever is mounted below trigger guard, frame has serial number "2030", "5/263" large stamped markings in several places, and is also marked with Imperial proof stamps.  Walnut grips show scuffs and dings from service wear, initials "HC" carved on one side, base is complete with lanyard loop.  There is a small screw protruding from the frame on the grip which is either 'boogered' or a replacement.  Action is tight but functional.  This was the workhorse flare gun of the Imperial forces, and as such they tend to be in pretty rough condition - this one is about average as far as that goes, but what it lacks in pristine condition is more than compensated for with legitimate wartime service character.

$200 - $300

Imperial German P08 Luger Semi-Automatic Pistol: DWM 1914 (Imported Parts Rebuild)

9mm Luger caliber, 3.9" barrel, S/N 9463. NRA Fair. Retains ~40% blued finish blending with patina, checkered hardwood grips show extensive service wear but no breaks or damage. Barrel has some light pitting but is clean with strong rifling.  Chamber is dated "1914", toggle with script "DWM" logo, Imperial proofs on right side of chamber. Safety marked "GESISCHERT", grip frame with stock lug.  Example appears to be rebuilt from original parts, with the frame serial number "3164", "8968" on the barrel, and partial numbers "02", "64", and "21", along with a small import marking "GERMANY". Includes a single unnumbered wood base magazine.  Has some light pitting in spaces with finish loss on the high edges and points of contact.  Includes an original brown leather holster which has no visible markings, but the tool is still present in the pouch inside the flap. US sales only, FFL required.

$300 - $400

Granatenwerfer 16 flare projectile: Inert. Flare round for the Granatenwerfer 16, empty with pyrotechnics removed. 32cm (~12-1/2") overall length.  Appears to be a recovered and restored example with some areas of pitting, which are now covered over with a collector-applied field gray painted finish, as well as a few small holes of material loss along the crimped portion of the removable nose cap.

Fragmentation projectile is likewise inert.  W.Gr.15 round for the Granatenwerfer 16, retains ~60% original red painted finish (denotes a training piece) blended with patina.  Segmented iron warhead has inert fuze assembly.  $200 - $300

Imperial German WWI (inert) Grenade Lot: Two Rifle Grenades & One Disc Grenade

M.1914 Rifle Grenade has conical warhead with external segmentation, has dark patina and appears to have been lacquered, top with brass percussion fuze.  The grenade has the launching rod which is a bit bent and heavily corroded, likely an excavated example.  M.1917 Rifle Grenade has two-piece short cylindrical warhead retains 80% original field gray painted finish.  Lacks the fuze insert and launching rod.  M.1915 Disc Hand Grenade retains a mixture of blackened finish and patina, complete with a heavily corroded but original pull ring. 

$200 - $300

Excavated and restored example, original belt carrier / fuze puller for the Kugelhandgranate 1915.  This has been repainted and fitted with a replacement leather strap which, though a replacement, is of sufficient age and wear to not appear incongruous with the artifact.  This is a skeletonized sheet metal harness with belt clip, supporting the grenade via a metal disc riveted to a leather strap at the base, and attached via a clip and chain to the fuze wire.  When the leather strap is released, the act of withdrawing the grenade pulls the fuze, thus saving the grenadier that one extra step.  These fuze puller rigs seem to exist in this universe only as excavated relics from the battlefields, with only a handful of surviving non-excavated originals known.  That said, even the excavated and restored examples are quite scarce, and this one displays nicely.  $200 - $300

All are inert.  Includes Offensive Model 1915 'disc' or 'turtle' grenade,10.9cm in diameter complete with all brass screw caps, corroded pull safety and pin, with a post-war repainted light green finish.  

Also includes four variations of the M.17 eierhandgranate: Includes an example of the early smooth version with a M1913 traction igniter fuze, two examples with the segmented band, one of which has the scarce fuze featuring with a cap that is removed to reveal a porcelain pull on the end of a short chain.  The pull and chain is loose, but included.  Another segmented body egg grenade has the M.15 friction fuze, and the last one is a drill / practice grenade.  $300 - $400