Brunswick Busby

[Robin Lumsden]

I don't have much in the way of Imperial headgear, but I like totenkopf-related items so I couldn't resist this one. An NCO's/1-Year Volunteer's busby of the Brunswick Hussars, in 'untouched' condition.

[Robin Lumsden]

The inside is well finished with a Brunswick maker's mark.

[Tony & Kaiser]

Beautiful and expensive! Nice to see an original made with bear fur, rather than the normal seal fur line Busby with a Totenkopf hammered on. The center of the Feldzeichen on top must be dark blue? With that Feldzeichen, he could not be a
Einjährig-Freiwilliger but he would have been a Fähnrich (Officer-Candidate). Fähnrich were the only non-commissioned soldiers authorized to wear officer
Kokarden, but only after passing the officer's examination.

Congratulations!

[Glenn2438]

Senior NCOs

Tony,

According to the Decree of the War Ministry of the 30th of November 1846, the Vizewachtmeister and Wachtmeister of the Hussars and Uhlans were also entitled to wear the officers' pattern Feldzeichen on the busby and Czapka respectively.

Regards
Glenn

[Tony & Kaiser]

Hi Glenn, you are correct, Offizierportepee und Offizierkokarden for the Vizewachtmeister and Wachtmeister as per the 09 March 1844 AKO but this was changed with the introduction of the "NCO" pattern cockade with the single ribbing in 1867. I am afraid I only have the year, not the AKO date, but this is the same time that all the M1842 Waffenrock changes occurred, being 16 March 1867 and 25 April 1867.

[Eric Stahlhut]

Robin,

That is a beautiful piece! Thanks for sharing!


Say, have you ever considered wearing that one to work as a prank?
Just kidding...

[Robin Lumsden]

Thanks for the additional information.

Tony - yes, the centre of the cockade is a very dark blue.

It was expensive, but not TOO expensive. In fact, about half the price of what an SS chained dagger gets these days.

I think I got a bargain, as I saw a Brunswick busby (missing the fangschnur) on a site the other week for almost 5 times what I paid for this one.

Best regards,

Robin.

[Glenn2438]

Feldzeichen

Hi Tony,

I am not convinced that the Unteroffiziere mit Portepee dispensed with the officers' Feldzeichen following 1867. No mention of it is made in the Geschichte der Bekleidung der Königlich Preußischen Armee in den Jahren 1808 bis 1878 and published in 1878 or Das Deutsche Reichsheer in seiner neuesten Bekleidung und Ausrüstung published around 1888 with a supplement in 1892. Similarly the Senior NCOs of the Jäger would have worn the officers' Feldzeichen and I can find no order whatsoever rescinding this permission.

Have you ever seen this AKO of 1867 published anywhere?

Best regards
Glenn

[Dave Mosher]

Hi Glenn, you are correct, Offizierportepee und Offizierkokarden for the Vizewachtmeister and Wachtmeister as per the 09 March 1844 AKO but this was changed with the introduction of the "NCO" pattern cockade with the single ribbing in 1867. I am afraid I only have the year, not the AKO date, but this is the same time that all the M1842 Waffenrock changes occurred, being 16 March 1867 and 25 April 1867.

Hey Tony:
I have to agree with Glenn on this one. At least in my references, both Vizewachtmeister and Wachtmeister were authorized for officer's side arms (ie sword), portepee and officer's cockades. See if you can find that 1867 AKO reference and clear this up.

Regards

Dave

[Tony & Kaiser]

Perhaps we can start a new thread on this, and ask Rick to move these to it? we're taking away the focus from Robin's beautiful example. And I think I know which "site" you are referring to Robin, the home of the "$1500 helmet which will cost you $4000?"

[Dave Mosher]

Robin,

Tony is right. What a wonderful example!!

Regards

Dave