First Mannequin - "Early" 1916

[120rir]

Yeah...hard to believe but true. The ammo boxes are 100% original. I can only assume they were issued and then 10 minutes later put in someone's trunk for who-knows-how-long until they came on the market. I got them from GWM about 20 years ago. As for the rest of the minty stuff, it's taken a long, long time to accumulate a set like this. Ebay was the source of many of these items including the tornister, the wirecutters/case, and even that lovely gasmask bag and its contents. The way I look at it I'd rather have one top-notch example than a dozen "ok" examples for the collection. In so doing it can take forever to put sets together but in the end I think it's worth it. Also...they tell me the hunt is half the fun. :-)

[PlaceOfBayonets]

Yeah...hard to believe but true. The ammo boxes are 100% original. I can only assume they were issued and then 10 minutes later put in someone's trunk for who-knows-how-long until they came on the market. I got them from GWM about 20 years ago. As for the rest of the minty stuff, it's taken a long, long time to accumulate a set like this. Ebay was the source of many of these items including the tornister, the wirecutters/case, and even that lovely gasmask bag and its contents. The way I look at it I'd rather have one top-notch example than a dozen "ok" examples for the collection. In so doing it can take forever to put sets together but in the end I think it's worth it. Also...they tell me the hunt is half the fun. :-)

Well those are amazing ammo pooches then. Do you have any photos of them before you put em on the display?

[crown.point]

Very impressive, Herr Doktor Ludwig.

[Chip M]

Brian,

I had never seen your tunic before. Very nice. My only other comments are, where are the shouder straps and "Deckel nach rechts"!

Chip

[HAF]

spectacular nice set ,

[120rir]

Thanks for the compliments Chip (and everyone). Unfortunately, it's the only FG tunic I've got so I have to make it go a long way. It needs some minor TLC but I have the proper shoulder straps although I forgot it had no side hooks (time to hunt for those I guess). I got it in a convoluted trade deal many years ago and it is, in response to Paul B's question, BAG marked. One of these days I'll pick up other tunic patterns but I just can't seem to get way from blowing my toy money on gear instead!

[Dave Mosher]

Very nice. Based on the cuff configuration and the nickel buttons, your tunic was from either the 5GRzF, 6GRzF or 7GRzF (piped in white, red or yellow w/o ciphers or numbers, respectively), and is missing the "old Prussian " style litzen on the collar and cuffs.

Regards

Dave

[120rir]

You got it! The liner is marked to the 5th Guard. Per requests below here are a couple close-up shots of the cartridge boxes.

[120rir]

Two more photos including a close-up of the mark - identical on both boxes.

[rick1]

Super ammo pouches!! Thanks for showing.

[ccj]

Superb, those are the type and condition I searched for years without success for my LGR100 tunic.

Two more photos including a close-up of the mark - identical on both boxes.

[rick1]

Superb, those are the type and condition I searched for years without success.

I agree very rare and super...I however appreciate the been there items...blackened etc.

[Chip M]

"Z & K N" I don't know the company names, but the "N" probably stands for either Nachfolger or Nürnberg.

I own a pouch with the same marking and have seen another dated 1916, as well as a M1911 pouch dated 1915.

Chip

[Hans K.]

Wonderful display. Simply outstanding. Are there any maker marks inside the gas mask's Segeltuchtasche? It looks identical to mine.

Thanks,
Hans

[120rir]

Thanks for the compliments! There are no visible maker's marks on the bag and if there ever was one it would certainly be clear - the bag is in pretty much unissued condition. The only marks other than the size (2) printed on the ends are hand-written on the inside of the flap...the soldier's name presumably ("West") and 2/117.