1915 dated Prussiab cavalry lance

[axion9]

Hi!
Anyone seen such before?
Steel shaft 92,5 cm, 101 cm wooden shaft.
Are these common?
Thanks!
Regards Johan

[GWA]

Original German issue lances like yours are very rare.

[GdC26]

+ 1. Weitze had one many, many moons ago. Is it full length and undamaged?

[phild]

From about 1892 the German lances were made of seamless steel tube and approximately 320cm total length, I may be a few CM off with that information but it close within a few CM. We need to see grip area and any markings on spike as well as attachment provision for pennant (which looks like an original Prussian NCO type) and the butt end of the lance. It could be an old wooden shaft updated (during period or after) with WWI era spike or something else but hard to say right now for me at least

[Willi Z.]

Here is one I was able to handle 2 years ago;

http://auctions.morphyauctions.com/lot-281995.aspx

[Willi Z.]

Johan, the dimensions you quote come to 193,5 cms......which seems short. About my height at 6'4".

I one I handled was another 4' taller than I am.

[GWA]

Here's a photo of mine.

[axion9]

Pics

Pics

[pauke]

Interesting item. I recall one of these for sale at an OVMS show in the late 1980s or maybe early 90s. The main question would have been "how do you get it home"? Anyway, it was sold. An added note, when the new barracks for schnelle Truppen was constructed west of Berlin at Krampnitz in the late 1930s the job of finding and collecting lances to build an impressive "lance" entrance gate was given to an adjutant with the name von Esebeck. All of these disappeared at some time and when the installation was last used by a military unit (Soviet) the gate was still there but it wasn't constructed of lances.

[phild]

It appears from the photos so far that the front part is the original steel lance. I would have to get the exact measurements from mine, but I’m guessing if the handle is still present that it was cut off right behind the grip
Section and later replaced with a wooden shaft. As mentioned these were very difficult souvenirs to ship or transport and have seen several that were just a section. This one being 1920 marked would lead me to believe that it was in Germany through WW2
As far as I know they were officially withdrawn in 1916 but the decision was protested strongly and many or most all cavalry units still with mounts retained them. I would suspect that none were made after 1916 much as was the case with the heavy issue swords.

[Brian S]

Maybe none of you care about the lance in use but I'll risk your disdain nonetheless. This is one of my favorite photos of my grandfather leading his Dragoons. He's the obvious commander in the photo.

[Reichsword]

I recall reading somewhere that WKC, exported these lance heads to several South American countries during the 1920's. And that many found on the market come from Chile. Either way, I'd love to have one in my collection.

[phild]

I recall reading somewhere that WKC, exported these lance heads to several South American countries during the 1920's. And that many found on the market come from Chile. Either way, I'd love to have one in my collection.

I don’t know the story on WKC exporting the heads in the 20s or if any surplus German lances were exported to South America then but it sounds reasonable. I do know that WKC made entire lances for Argentina in the mid to late 1890s and many of those were imported into the US circa 1980 by I believe Interarmco and ended up at Sarco. These differ in several details from German Military lances including head design, markings, handle wrap type, and pennant attachment fittings.

It is interesting that the process to cold roll steel into a seamless tube was early used to make magazine tubes for the G71/84 rifle and later the G88 barrel jacket. The technology was treated as basically a state secret. These lances utilized the same technology and as such were a “big deal”.
Although not serial numbered the running inventory of German lances were tracked and reported along with small arms. They were serious weapons and used in many actions early in the war and in more limited ways although the war.
The German examples are for sure very seldom seen for sale.