Memorabilia

Imperial German Early WWI Defensive Stick Grenade With 'Spoon Lever' Ignitor

INERT Model 1915 defensive stick grenade with ‘spoon’ lever ignitor.  Segmented kugelhandgranate warhead retains traces of blackened finish blending with patina.  Wooden handle is complete with side mounted pull ring and pin with spoon lever ignitor mechanism.  The thin metal of the ignitor's spoon handle shows pitting from oxidation.  Includes pull ring safety.  This is a collector / museum restoration of excavated parts, mated with a proper reproduction wood handle.  With just a handful of vanishingly rare exceptions, an excavated and restored example such as this is the best a collector can hope to find.   Kugel warhead is just a bit loose on the attachment point on the handle. $600 - $800

Granatenwerfer 16 Trench Projectile Launcher

Retains black painted finish mixing with a light age patina; base has "Granatenwerfer 16" maker's data plate, though the maker portion is worn to being illegible.  Elevation adjustment works smoothly, The Granatenwerfer due to its unique design is a non-firearm in the eyes of Federal regulations, and no FFL is required.  

The Granatenwerfer 16 was a compact light mortar developed by the German Army for use in the static conditions of trench warfare. Introduced in 1916, this smoothbore, cup‑type launcher fired fin‑stabilized bombs using a propelling cartridge, delivering high‑angle fire at short ranges—typically under 400 meters. The weapon’s relatively light weight and simple, sturdy design allowed small infantry detachments to operate it close to the front line, lobbing explosive or gas projectiles into enemy trenches and obstacles with rapid accuracy.

Compared to earlier heavy trench mortars such as the 7.58 cm Minenwerfer, the Granatenwerfer 16 offered greater mobility and a faster rate of fire. Its tactical function paralleled that of British 2‑inch and French V.B. rifle grenade systems, which were also designed to saturate enemy positions that could not be reached by direct rifle fire. The German launcher’s efficiency in delivering sudden, localized bombardments made it a vital support weapon in assault and defensive operations, bridging the gap between hand grenades and heavier artillery throughout the latter half of the war.

$600 - $800

Inert - Early WWI improvised German grenade consists of a 6" x 3-1/2" x 3" field gray finished tinned iron warhead, base with time fuze complete with pull-safety, and mounted on 15-1/2" wooden racquet handle.  The French, German, and British all used field-made variations on this theme early in the war before more sofisticated munitions were available in adequate supply, but this one most closely resembles the German racquet grenade illustrated in Delhomme's reference Les Grenades Allemandes De La Grande Guerre.  This particular example was found in a barn in central Kentucky sometime before 2004 when it was originally consigned to Advance Guard Militaria by our dear departed friend Matt Johnson.  Our customer who purchased it at that time is now the one offering it (and much of his collection) for sale through Bannerman.  So how did such an early German grenade in such outstanding condition get to the U.S.?  We can only speculate, but it is possible that it was a doughboy souvenir, or more likely part of a selection of captured German ordnance that was rendered inert and brought to the U.S. for training in 1917.  A finer example of this grenade will not be found in any museum or collection.  An exceptional example of a very rare piece of ordnance. $1500 - $2000

M1915 Mess Kit with Combination Fork and Spoon Utensil: Bing 1917

Issue Model 1915 enameled iron mess retains 85% field gray enameled exterior finish, with fewer than the normal expected finish dings, though there is a solder repaired hole on the base.  This is a matched set (also a pleasant surprise) with maker's date stamps: "Bing 17".  Example retains the issue folding spoon and fork combination mess utensil which was still installed inside the lid when we got it, just as it was carried in the field.  

$100 - $150

Imperial German WWI Soldier's Accoutrement Lot: Breadbag, Strap & Canteen

Wartime M1915 breadbag which shows service wear, grime and soil, lacks the two utility buttons used by the belt attachment straps; interior has 1915 dated maker stamp and is marked to Infantry Regiment Nr. 9.  Breadbag strap is the pre-war ocher color M1893 breadbag strap, which is marked to Infantry Regiment Nr. 88.  M1915 canteen has feldgrau cover which is heavily soiled consistent with the breadbag, has leather strap which is weak, missing the attachment fitting and stopper.  Reverse of cover has a faint illegible inscription.  Also includes a M1917 lederschutzmaske gas mask and carrier.  Mask remains in good pliable condition as they always do, and has the ring of topographical rust around the filter that you often see on these.  Carrier has bits of field gray painted finish blending with oxidized patina, lid has illegible painted marking, complete with well-worn but intact carry and attachment straps.  

$100 - $200

Württemburg M1915 Ammunition Pouch

Single example of the unique Württemburg Model 1915 brown pebble-grained leather ammunition pouch.  This unique pattern is hinged on the front with side closure tabs, reverse has belt loops and ring for attachment to the knapsack or breadbag strap.  Lid opens forward revealing a complex metal internal divider system that segregated not only each clip but also each individual bullet tip from one another.  Shows light wear, but the leather remains in very good condition and is Pecard-free.  Unmarked, but to my knowledge the only firm that made these was Nördlinger and Pollock of Stuttgart, who held 1914 and 1915 state patents on the design, and a contract for 150,000 ammunition pouches destined for the Thirteenth Army Corps.  Württemburg... who knew they were closet rebels?  We thought the Bavarians were the only ones sticking their fingers in the Kaiser's eye!  Scarce state-specific German field gear.

$150 - $200

Imperial German M.1915 Breadbag & M.1915/17 Canteen

Tin-plated iron flask canteen has brown lacquer finish over gray metal patina where worn, brown wool cover with Prym snaps.  This has the simplified leather suspension that was introduced in April 1917, in this case interestingly made with the feldgrau leather that we see on some late war helmet liners.  That same feldgrau leather is also used for the reinforces and loop strap on the M.1915 breadbag; an excellent example showing very little use.  Interior has brown leather closure straps, feldgrau finished utility buttons, and is nicely marked to JR 174.  Has 1916 dated maker stamp on the reverse of the center support strap.  Includes a nice breadbag strap that is just slightly more worn, with no visible markings.

JR 174 drew its recruits primarily from the Rhine Province, especially the cities of Koblenz, Trier, and Alsace-Lorraine. During the First World War, the regiment was attached to the 32nd Infantry Brigade, part of the XXI Army Corps, and participated extensively on the Western Front. Notably, the regiment saw heavy fighting in Flanders, including the Battle of the Lys and protracted actions near Lille and on the Kemmel-Locre front, where it sustained significant losses before rotating to quieter sectors for rest and refit.

$150 - $250

Imperial German WWI Armor Breastplate

First pattern armor has dark oxidized patina and a light pitted texture, likely an old battlefield recovery piece.  Maker marks are no longer visible.  Breastplate only - lacks the three descending size sporran armor segment plates, but these breastplates are always impressive, even when displayed on their own.  The armor sets were primarily issued to soldiers with static duties, such as machine gun teams and sentries, who faced concentrated enemy fire while stationary or defending advanced posts, but it saw limited experimental use by assault troops as well, on the theory that it would be useful when crossing no-man's-land, and then could quickly be discarded for ease of mobility when the rough work in the enemy's trenches was at hand.  One of the more notable period photos of German armor shows it in great heaps, collected by French troops after one such fight.  $200 - $300

43-3/4" overall.  Pioneer shovel has blade which was clearly once quite rusty and has been cleaned; entire surface is pitted but solid.  Has turned wood helve.  No visible markings.  Helve is fitted with one of the brown leather loop straps that the assault troops used to secure the helve to a shoulder strap on their uniform, with the blade stowed on a carrier on their belt.  This bit of equipment was elevated to paramount during the trench warfare of WWI, and in additional to the usual duties, these full-length spades were also carried into battle by Pioneer assault troops.  $100-$200

Imperial German WWI Accoutrement Lot: Cartridge Pouches, Belt, Pack, & Shovel Carrier

Black leather belt has Prussian buckle with "GOTT MIT UNS" motto.  Includes two M1909 cartridge pouches, one blackened, as ordered by the German Army for boots and other leather field gear in 1915.  (Both period photos and extant artifacts strongly suggest that this order was rather widely ignored).  This example has a 1915 dated maker stamp, and is blackened everywhere except the reverse side of the pouch.  Second example is dated 1916 and is of blackened leather entirely.  The brown leather individual entrenching tool carrier remains in nice condition, with unit marking "T.D.XVIII"  (per Jeff Noll's invaluable reference - horse depot of a train battalion / service corps detachment.)  This carrier includes a Linneman pattern entrenching tool with feldgrau finish on the blade.  Though this is -not- the Imperial German shovel with the distinctive riveted step, it works just fine as a stand-in for display.  Pack is the simplified wartime M1915 tornister, with calfskin reduced to the side covering the soldier's back only, and feldgrau canvas elsewhere.  Example has excellent pliable brown leather straps and fittings, with 1918 dated maker stamp.  

$200 - $300

Austro-Hungarian Artillery Shako for Senior Officers

M1878 shako has lion bosses on either side supporting a gilt finished brass chain, which with the horsehair plume distinguishes it from the nearly identical shako worn by other branches.  Body of the kepi has three wide rows of gold bullion braid denoting a senior (field grade) officer.  Plume has bullion cockade with Franz Joseph cypher.  Interior has brown grained leather sweatband and salmon colored silk crown lining with gilt embossed maker label.  Lacks only the internal strap.  Shako retains nice shape and shows only light wear. 

$200 - $300

Austrian WWI M17 Helmet

Germanic pattern helmet retains 80% military brown finish.  Interior has metal liner band with two of the three original liner pins and brown leather three pad liner system which show stains and wear as well as some minor material loss with loose grommets, one ear broken off and another pulled through.  Leather is Pecard-free.  Helmet is complete with the khaki heavy canvas Austrian style chinstrap with intact metal grommets; lacks the roller buckle.

 $400 - $600

Austrian WWI Berndorfer Helmet

Distinctive shaped Austrian designed helmet body retains ~40% earth brown finish blended with a mellow patina on the worn areas, with top ventilation disc and correct rear projecting liner band screw.  Interior has metal liner band with three brown leather liner pads, several of which exhibit old (quite possibly period) repairs of two fingers of one pad that had at one time torn through.  All have steel grommets in the 'fingers' which have oxidized but remain intact.  Helmet is complete with the thick linen adjustable Austrian style chinstrap with metal cam buckle and leather reinforcements.  Chinstrap is stained and worn, but intact.  Reverse interior skirt has the Berndorf bear logo stamp and size "66".  Original Austrian pattern helmets by Berndorf Steelworks have always been scarce, but have become quite rare over the past few decades.

$4000 - $6000

Triangular steel armor plate for the unique Austrian pattern Berndorfer helmet, with better than 80% original earth brown painted finish. Plate has hinged strap upper attachment intended to anchor to the ventilation cover on the top of the Berndorfer helmet, with compound pivoting attachments on the lower left and right for attachment via hooks to the visor, and via a strap which was to be held to the helmet via a clip mounted on the protruding screw on the center of the back helmet crown.  The brow plate retains its complete original leather reinforced fabric chinstrap with grommet holes that are oxidized but intact. 

These were not universal issue items, but rather were unit property, in a prescribed ratio to helmets.  According to the Emperor's Coat, brow plates were produced for only 3% of the helmets in use.  So of the roughly 140,000 Berndorfer helmets made between May 1917 until the end of their production in November 1917, we can estimate that approximately 4,200 brow plates were made.  A very, very rare piece of WWI trench armor. $3000 - $4000

Austro-Hungarian WWI Haversack & Canteen

Austro-Hungarian haversack of lightweight feldgrau linen haversack has two belt hook straps, one of which is missing the hook portion.  Interior is divided into several pockets, with the innermost featuring a pocket for the enameled iron water bottle (included.)  Interior front portion has partially legible stamp with 1918 date.  Edges of the material is frayed in spots but it remains solid, and the metal grommets for the adjustment buckles are intact.  Reverse is marked with a name.  Very scarce piece of WWI Austrian gear! 

$300 - $400

Austro-Hungarian WWI M17 Trench Knife

M.17 close combat knife has 20.4 cm blade has gray patina with some scattered dark age spots and tool marks; ricasso has "Z" maker's stamp.  Hilt has straight oval crossguard, marked on the handle side with a small Austro-Hungarian eagle stamp, and two-piece wood scale grips which show normal dings and scuffs from field service.  Metal scabbard has feldgrau painted finish. 

$100 - $150

Austrian WWI Trench Mace: Original Head with Replacement Handle

55cm overall, cast iron striking head features eight small conical protrusions around the sides and one at the top, attached to the turned hardwood handle by round head wire nails.  The Austrians had a wide array of variant cast iron trench mace striking heads.  A number of these specific nine-point Austrian heads were discovered many years ago, all original, but they all magically 'grew' handles, some convincing, others somewhat less so.  I have had a few that I was thoroughly convinced had been together since before the guns fell silent, others that were clearly new to each other, and plenty more where you honestly just can't tell.  Having had a bunch of these over the years, I believe this is one from the cache of original striking heads, married up to a handle that is turned to pattern and aged to look old.

$200 - $300

Austrian WWI Zeitzünder Rifle Grenade

Inert.  34-3/4" overall length including the proper threaded rod.  Cast iron heavily segmented warhead has dark patina and retains traces of black painted finish, base retains lead ball pull on cord for the time fuze mechanism. 

$200 - $300

British & Canadian WWI Uniform Lot: Costume House / Display Items

Mixed lot, includes original WWI Canadian issue trousers with a nice 1915 dated Toronto maker's stamp among numerous postwar costume house markings.  This set of trousers has numerous sewn repairs along the waistband suggesting that a waist adjustment strap has been removed, among other injuries and past size adjustments.  Other original items include an olive wool knit sweater vest and two pair of gray wool socks.  Pattern 07 service coat we believe to be a costume house piece from beginning to end, made with the double dart collar feature but without rifle patches.  One of the British general service buttons is hanging loose where the fabric has torn around the attachment point.  Interior has costume house stamped markings.  Lot further includes a pair of shoes that appear original to the period and look good for display as B5 boots, but it is our assessment that they are simply period 'trade boots' and not a pair of military issue shoes with spurious date and BroadArrow markings added to the soles.  They would be excellent candidates to use on a mannequin, leaving your good original pair of B5 boots for separate display.  Boots do not include laces. 

$100 - $200

This distinctive pattern coat was introduced during the war.  It differed from the issue greatcoats; shorter in length and featuring a double-breasted front closure.  This example has British general service buttons, of which two coat size and both epaulette buttons are missing.  It has clearly seen extensive service, as the back of the collar is thoroughly infused with the grime of the unwashed, though with the exception of a torn pocket corner the coat itself shows little damage.  Mostly just soil and pet hair, as it was clearly somebody's favorite sleepy spot at some point in the chain of custody (we did our best to remove as much of that as possible.)  Interior has a full-length off white wool flannel lining which is torn in several spots and heavily stained; has purple laundry pen name "PLATT" at the skirt and numerals in the upper portion.  The collar has become separated from the lining in several places due to weak stitching.  

Lot also includes an unlined khaki wool overcoat with British general service buttons; interior has combined white and light olive facings and pockets, marked with a New York costume company stamp.  $150 - $250

British WWI Pattern 07 Enlisted Service Jacket

Pattern 1907 khaki wool service dress jacket has five-button front closure with British general service buttons, "R.W.KENT" Royal West Kent Regiment metal shoulder titles on the epaulettes.  A pull or hole above each of these indicates that these titles were not the first insignia to be in place here.  The coat has the distinctive pre-1918 'double dart' construction feature under the collar.  Interior has drab cotton facings and lower pockets, with a faint laundry pen name on one of the pockets.  This shows light stains, wear and fading, with a sewn repair on the front face of the collar stand on one side.  There are a few small moth holes but nothing conspicuous or detractive.  A good British / Commonwealth P07 tunic. 

$200 - $400

British / Commonwealth WWI Mounted Soldier's Issue Breeches Lot

Includes two pair of the enlisted issue khaki wool breeches 'Pantaloons, Service Dress'  prescribed in regulations for all soldiers not on foot or in a kilted regiment.  First example is of khaki Bedford cloth, as originally prescribed when these were introduced in 1902, with the leather interior leg facings that were discontinued in 1907 and then resumed in 1914.  These have a mixture of replacement buttons, but appear to have always been set up for single point suspender brace attachment rather than the doubled arrangement that was adopted in 1915.  Example remains in very nice condition with just a few inconspicuous holes.  Interior waistband lining has an inked name.

Second example is of khaki wool cloth with self-fabric reinforced seat, cuffs with an interesting fabric billet and vest buckle attachment system.  Interior has natural cotton pocket and waistband lining with faint stamped markings.  These also appear to always have been set up for single brace buttons.  With the exception of one riveted replacement, all zinc utility buttons are retained. 

$150 - $250

Enlisted issue khaki wool breeches 'Pantaloons, Service Dress' have waist with doubled pairs of suspender buttons as was introduced in 1915, interior thighs with leather facing reinforcements, and olive green cotton drill sections at the end of each leg as was introduced in early 1918.  Interior has drab white cotton waistband and pockets, with BroadArrow issue stamp.  Leather is stained, and there is one large eraser size hole on the inseam but overall very nice condition.  These were prescribed in regulations for all soldiers not on foot or in a kilted regiment.  $200 - $300

British WWI 1918 Pattern Service Coat with Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry & Pioneer Insignia

Simplified 1918 pattern khaki wool service coat has brass strung horn insignias and "CORNWALL" titles on the epaulettes, Pioneer insignias on the collar, and British general service buttons.  Interior has khaki cotton pockets, olive and khaki cotton facings with a partially legible service number and purple laundry pen name inscription.  There are 'shadows' indicating where battle flash insignias were once on the center back and also on the arms, but have subsequently been removed. Shows normal light service wear, with a dime size moth hole in the left cuff and several more on the right skirt near the pocket and buttonstand; good condition overall.

$300 - $500

British WWI Pattern 07 Enlisted Service Jacket w/ Paper Label

Pattern 1907 khaki wool service dress jacket has five-button front closure with British general service buttons, no sign of collar insignias or shoulder titles ever having been installed. The coat has the distinctive pre-1918 'double dart' construction feature under the collar.  Interior has drab white cotton facings and lower pockets, with most of its paper label intact, though the date is not visible.  Light wear and a bit of light moth tracking, but no readily apparent holes or anything else detractive.  A very nice P07 coat! 

$300 - $500