Imperial Lance?

[Skylinechili]

I just found this in storage and believe it's a calvary lance? I remember it hung over our fireplace when I was very young but hadn't seen it in many years. Hard to get a good photo as it's very long. 

[Fritz]

Topic should be under "Edged Weapons", the lance was the most important cavalry weapon.

Not "Imperial", this was the most important weapon for the cavalry after 1888, a Prussian Stahlrohrlanze Modell 1888, after 1891 it became standard for the entire cavalry. Before that date wooden lances were used and were only used by the lancer (Ulanen-) regiments, thereafter became standard for all cavalry, which then all had the same tactical role. Important are the stamps on the lance head to determine it's origin.  The stamp 15.U.3.101 is here of significance, and is also the individual number of the weapon

Schleswig-Holsteinisches Ulanen-Regiment 15, 3. Eskadron, weapon number 101.

Another stamp show a crown and W over 06, the W is the Prussian mark, the 06 is 1906. These same stamps will also normally be found on the other weapons. The tip of the lance looks as though it has been ground down to make it blunt. The grip was bound with brown leather and attached was a brown  leather carrying strap to fit around the wrist or lower arm. The base of the lance has a fitting, which fits into the leather shoe attached to the right stirrup.
There were two types of penant, the one shown in your photos is for the ranks of Unteroffizier, Sergeant and Vizewachtmeister. Officers did not carry a lance. The other type of penant was for other ranks and was simply in the national colours, white over black.

Lances were used by the cavarly  - Reichswehr - till 1927, then officially abolished.

Lances can still be found, but expensive and not everyone can accomodate these due to the length. Our local museum has an original lance, this hangs from the ceiling in the small room where it is displayed, see photo, this example has an other ranks' penant.
The penant usually had stamps, makers mark, date and unit, very often these are rather faded or worn out.
Every German state had it's own lance flags.

Approx value: Lances today cost around 1.000 Euros, depending on condition, a rare or interesting unit may make it even more interesting and expensive, an NCO lance flag costs at least 550 - 750 Euros, according to condition.

This publication dedicated entirely to the M.1888 lance published in 2005, 40 pages and costs around 15,80 Euros

Mecklenburg, Dragoner-Regiment 17 with lances

Schleswig-Holsteinisches Ulanen-Regiment 15, Gefreiter

 

 

 

 

Lance penant for NCOs, faded

[Fritz]

Other examples:

 

Württemberg, NCO lance pennant, Bavaria, lance pennant for other ranks, stamped

Bavaria, NCO

Penannt, Leibhusaren-Regiment 2