Gildwiller1918

Wow, interesting article! I get the laws and other legal stuff behind it, but like you said it not all illegal if done properly.

I understand Fritz, WW1 items were relatively cheap a few decades ago, now it is crazy. I remember finding uniforms and helmets much easier than today. Hopefully most of the items you saw are in museums or private collections where they are preserved for future generations. On the flip side, I have heard that a lot of the younger generations do not know the significance nor do they care, and try to sell the items, if not they throw it out. I have personally seen this, and its a shame as they are throwing away their families heritage.

Here is a WW1 US flashlight or Beacon Light. It was designed to be used in a handheld manner or be hung from the tunic buttons with the use of the leather strap on the reverse of the light. This light has the original battery inside, but is no longer functional. It is similar in design to other European types in use at the time. An interesting piece, one that is often overlooked from most uniform displays.

Here is a very nice WW2 dated RCAF Side Cap. The front of the cap has two properly marked buttons, with the RCAF emblem on the side of the cap. Inside has the broad arrow stamp and the makers stamp.

In addition to having a distinct uniform, the Marines also had their own version of the peaked "Montana" style felt wool hat. The USMC version campaign hat was more brown in color, and had 2 rows of stitching along the brim and was naturally fitted with a USMC emblem. Like the US Army versions, these were replaced with side caps upon arrival in France.

Here is a WW1 Era USMC Tunic and trouser set. This particular tunic is the model 1917 pattern which differed from the previous pattern, the model 1912 in that is added two pockets at the bottom of the tunic, whereas the M1912 only had breast pockets. The color of these tunics could vary but the official color was forrest green. The tunic here is a nice rich shade of green, the trousers are more the common color seen for these uniforms. These tunics also had a pointed shape cuff with USMC buttons and were generally stamped (not always) inside the liner with sizing information. Towards the end of 1918, new regulations came down authorizing the wear of the USMC enlisted collar disks, which this uniform has, and the collar has holes prefabricated for their use. Wartime enlisted tunics did not wear collar disks, however strangely enough, a vast majority of USMC troops wore US Army issued tunics with USMC patches and insignia. This was mainly to ease supply issues and there was a concern that the green colored uniforms (Compare the trousers below) could be mistaken for the Feld-Grau of the German uniforms.

Here is a pre-ww1 era US Bolo knife made by Collins and Company located in Hartford Connecticut. This knife was officially designated the No. 1005 model and was used by the US Army shortly after the Spanish American War. The blade was curved and quite heavy with a 15.5 inch blade length. Some blades were marked US-ED for United States Engineering Department. The handles on early models (like the one pictured) were of a green horn construction. These knives were issued with a leather and brass scabbard, and were not meant for combat use, they were intended for engineering and other similar roles.

I just got a pair of the internal suspenders used in conjunction with the belt hooks. I will post some pictures once I get them in. Not easy to find anymore.

It is amazing how much of this stuff is still there. I remember finding a live US Mk II Grenade in the Snee Eifel area, we roped the hole off and notified the police.

Well this item piqued my interest, so I decided to get one for the collection. When I was in Belgium in 2015, I spoke with several farmers who now farmland that was once battlefields, they said it was very common to find live gas shells as several of their relatives had hit one or dug one up accidentally and got gassed. They said this had not happened for some time (70's/80's) but it was interesting hearing the stories. As you walk on the fields today, shrapnel balls are still everywhere along with bullets and bullet casings, amazing.

I don't know Fritz, you could be right, I have seen several French uniforms with Hollywood stamps, this could be one or something a collector made up. Without more information, probably will never know. I am not an authority on French uniforms unfortunately. I just wanted a few to have in the collection is all.

Here are some more ammunition cans used for the MG08 and the MG 08/15. These are steel cans that have a divider (which is often missing today) that held 2 - 250 round belts. One on the left is original condition, the one on the right I have sandblasted, cleaned and repainted as it was rust covered. Note the differences in the handles...

I did pick up a Berthier Carbine bayonet recently, matching numbers on the bayonet and scabbard.

I would love to have an Austrian uniform for the collection, however I have never seen one for sale. I have seen the Kepi's every so often, but the WW1 woolen uniforms seem to be drying up.

Yes the NSKK wore the Silver version of these buckles as they came from the SA. I have seen two types for the NSKK buckles, one which is similar in appearance to the SA types, but silver, and another which is close to Army types, which has a pebbled look to indicate members at the NSKK driving school, also silver looking, but dull in appearance. The NSKK buckles are not as common as the SA ones and are typically more expensive. As Fritz said, be mindful of fakes...