Anyone collect Imperial Militaria? I do, here is some of mine.

[Warren Sear]

Fantastic revolver. Does it have any regimental or other unit markings?

Yes, it does. The back of the grip strap reads; I.M.50.II.13. The following is stamped below that, but has been crossed out; 14.A.E.r.63. I used to know what these markings meant, but no longer remember.

The revolver has been in my family for as long as I know. I come from German immigrants on both sides of my family. I don't know how the revolver came to the U.S. The revolver is a work of art, and displays outstanding craftsmanship and detail, including the rust blue finish. I have loaded ammo for it using cast 205 grain 44 caliber bullets and 44 Russian casings from Starline, and shot it fairly often over the years. The holster (seen in my post above) is in remarkably fine condition considering its age. I plan on giving the gun, holster, and medal to my nephew at some point in the future.

I have been to Germany several times over the years, and was in East Germany immediately after the wall had been opened, visiting some relatives of a German friend. The relative was a WWII veteran and had some incredible WWII experiences. Although illegal to own, he had plenty of photos, medals, and other goodies. He gave me this Iron Cross. I no longer remember what the medal is about. One side of the medal looks just like the one in the photo posted above, and the back side has the imperial crown, below it the letters FW, below that is an oak leaf cluster, and at the bottom the numerals 1813.

Can anyone provide info on the markings on the gun or the significance of the medal?

 

[the ringo kid]

Yes, it does. The back of the grip strap reads; I.M.50.II.13. The following is stamped below that, but has been crossed out; 14.A.E.r.63. I used to know what these markings meant, but no longer remember.

The revolver has been in my family for as long as I know. I come from German immigrants on both sides of my family. I don't know how the revolver came to the U.S. The revolver is a work of art, and displays outstanding craftsmanship and detail, including the rust blue finish. I have loaded ammo for it using cast 205 grain 44 caliber bullets and 44 Russian casings from Starline, and shot it fairly often over the years. The holster (seen in my post above) is in remarkably fine condition, considering its age. I plan on giving the gun, holster, and medal to my nephew at some point in the future.

I have been to Germany several times over the years, and was in East Germany just after the wall had been opened, visiting some relatives of a German friend. The relative was a WWII veteran and had some incredible WWII experiences. Although illegal to own, he had plenty of photos, medals, and other goodies. He gave me this Iron Cross. I no longer remember what the medal is about. One side of the medal looks just like the one in the photo posted above, and the back side has the imperial crown, below it the letters FW, below that is oak leaves, and at the bottom is the numerals 1813.

Can anyone provide info on the markings on the gun or the significance of the medal?

Thats a great story and thanks for it. The medal is a 1914 Iron Cross 2nd class, missing ribbon but ribbon is fairly easy to find-both original and repo. I correct length of original ribbon for it will cost you about $10 bucks last I looked. If you can check the outer rim of the ring (where the ribbon fits through on the Iron Cross) please let me know if there is a number stamped on it? I can tell you who the maker is by that number. The EKII (Iron Cross 2nd class) is a bravery award. The EKI, is higher in rank than that award-kind of like the Silver Star is above the Bronze Star-type thing.

The crossed out unit number Nr 63, means that that gun belonged to the man listed as Nr 63 on the Company Roster. Being its an Imperial German unit, and the age of the weapon, I dont know if I can tell you the correct unit or not? Ill see if I can show your photo around with your permission, and I might be able to get you a good answer. I know one guy who can easily answer it but, he is a German living in China working for the chinese branch of the German corporation hes employed with. This guy is quite a character too. His family has earned through the years, at least 5-6 Pour le Me rites. I can give names anyone is interested? Anyway, his name is Andreas--and has the "von" in his name.

I noticed the unit designation is done two ways, and im not good enough to figure out why? but im assuming as on the crossed out info, that the man it was issued to, was the 5oth man on the roster of whatever unit he was in--possible Artillery or most likely Cavalry. The newer unit stampings could mean it was a gun transferred to the Imperial German Navy??

Let me know if you want me to post that photo elsewhere where I might get help on it and hopefully correct info.

 

[wbraswell]

Great thread, ringo. This kind of stuff, just makes our forum even better.

 

[Old TexMex]

What wbraswell said^ ^

 

[11B Lifer]

From graves

I noted mention of grave robbing... Here's a consideration-during the nazi extermination, tons and tons of jewelry was stolen, as well as awards received by Jewish military personnel from WW1-at the end of WW2 the axis countries were devastated-entire estates in rubble-
I'm of the opinion that much of the loot now appears as antique jewelry in stores throughout Germany-
I purchased a few rings and such many years ago-but have since stopped the practice-nothing pragmatic about it-idealism

 

[the ringo kid]

I noted mention of grave robbing... Here's a consideration-during the nazi extermination, tons and tons of jewelry was stolen, as well as awards received by Jewish military personnel from WW1-at the end of WW2 the axis countries were devastated-entire estates in rubble-
I'm of the opinion that much of the loot now appears as antique jewelry in stores throughout Germany-
I purchased a few rings and such many years ago-but have since stopped the practice-nothing pragmatic about it-idealism

Thanks guys. 11B, your correct and also a bigger amount of looted property from the Jewish folks, has been flooding out of Russia and Eastern Europe. I had a 100 RM note that was script used in concentration camps and was also the exact same script that the German military also used. Only reason I have it, is because of my friend Anna, somehow got it when she was in a concentration camp--I no longer remember which she was in? Anyway, she knew I was interested in all aspects of WWII history, so she gave it to me several years ago before she passed away. Anna wasnt afraid to tell her stories and I wished I had taped them. A good on-screen attempt to tell a story much like hers, is the Czech made movie from about 1960-1962? called: Kapo.

 

[the ringo kid]

Found this in my photo bucket account. The below from left to right are:
1914 Friedrich August Cross 2nd class w/ rarer For Bravery Bar, a two place Imperial Medal Bar with 1914 Iron Cross 2nd class and the rarest of the three Hanseatic Crosses: the: Lubeck Cross (very early production piece because its got much more silver content than Nickle or other. The other is the Hamburg Hanseatic Cross-or the most produced and awarded of the crosses:

 

[the ringo kid]

To the left, two W-SS Unit collar tabs: Langemarck and Nordland divisions. The purple are VERY rare and VERY valuable, these are Bishops Collar tabs. All these collar tabs are WWII, but figured id get them here since I found a photo of them.

 

[the ringo kid]

About 1/4th my ribbon bar collection, some are scanned upside down by the person who scanned them for me.

The Imperial 7 place bar, the 3rd down on the page, belonged to the Grand Duke of Mecklinburg/Schwerin: Friedrich Francis von Grossherzog IV:

F.F.v.G IV:

Postcard of him from my tiny collection:

 

[Warren Sear]

Thats a great story and thanks for it. The medal is a 1914 Iron Cross 2nd class, missing ribbon but ribbon is fairly easy to find-both original and repo. I correct length of original ribbon for it will cost you about $10 bucks last I looked. If you can check the outer rim of the ring (where the ribbon fits through on the Iron Cross) please let me know if there is a number stamped on it? I can tell you who the maker is by that number. The EKII (Iron Cross 2nd class) is a bravery award. The EKI, is higher in rank than that award-kind of like the Silver Star is above the Bronze Star-type thing.

The crossed out unit number Nr 63, means that that gun belonged to the man listed as Nr 63 on the Company Roster. Being its an Imperial German unit, and the age of the weapon, I dont know if I can tell you the correct unit or not? Ill see if I can show your photo around with your permission, and I might be able to get you a good answer. I know one guy who can easily answer it but, he is a German living in China working for the chinese branch of the German corporation hes employed with. This guy is quite a character too. His family has earned through the years, at least 5-6 Pour le Me rites. I can give names anyone is interested? Anyway, his name is Andreas--and has the "von" in his name.

I noticed the unit designation is done two ways, and im not good enough to figure out why? but im assuming as on the crossed out info, that the man it was issued to, was the 5oth man on the roster of whatever unit he was in--possible Artillery or most likely Cavalry. The newer unit stampings could mean it was a gun transferred to the Imperial German Navy??

Let me know if you want me to post that photo elsewhere where I might get help on it and hopefully correct info.

I looked closely at the medal and did not see any number stamped on the ring.

Yes, please feel free to send the pictures anywhere.

Thank you for your information.

 

[Warren Sear]

I also own what's left of a Danzig Gew. 98 Mauser rifle made in 1915. It is in very worn condition and none of the numbers match, but it is 100% complete and in perfect working condition. I could post some pictures if anyone is interested in seeing it. There is no personal story behind it; I bought it about 15 years ago just because I thought it was interesting.

(Edited to add that it has the lange "roller coaster" style rear sight and walnut stock typical of that era.)

 

[the ringo kid]

I looked closely at the medal and did not see any number stamped on the ring.

Yes, please feel free to send the pictures anywhere.

Thank you for your information.

Well do. Ill do that tomorrow as soon as I get back home from an early appointment.

 

[the ringo kid]

I also own what's left of a Danzig Gew. 98 Mauser rifle made in 1915. It is in very worn condition and none of the numbers match, but it is 100% complete and in perfect working condition. I could post some pictures if anyone is interested in seeing it. There is no personal story behind it; I bought it about 15 years ago just because I thought it was interesting.

(Edited to add that it has the lange "roller coaster" style rear sight and walnut stock typical of that era.)

Post away, im always interested in anything Imperial.

 

[Warren Sear]

Gewehr 98

Here are some pictures, as promised earlier...

 

[the ringo kid]

Well, I have this Model 1883 Reichsrevolver:

Just wanted you to know I still have not heard a good reply about your revolver yet-still looking and waiting.

 

[the ringo kid]

Here are some pictures, as promised earlier...

Nice rifle. I was searching on a site I stopped looking at over a year ago and there are naysayers about the Danzig Mauser BUT I know a gent who has over 1,000 Mausers in his collection and he told me they do exist as Imperial made and marked-like yours is. The naysayers according to Bear, and in his words: "Dont know their *******s from a hole in the ground" and most likely are confusing real Danzig stamped rifles for the faked WWII Mausers also stamped with Danzig and also has SS runes added. That was done in order to make it appear that those rifles were issued only to the SS.

 

[Warren Sear]

Regarding my M1883 revolver discussed above, I found some information that I had from long ago in some of my (late) fathers things.

I.M.50.II.13. (stamped on backstrap) in German correlates to:

leichte Munitionskolonne der II. Abteilung Feldartillerie Regiment 50.13

Note that the "I" is actually a small "l". The text translates in English to:

light Munitions column of the 2 battery. detachment of the field artillery regiment 50. weapon number 13

I do not know the meaning of the crossed out text, although from 14.A.E.r.63

"A" possibly means Artillery
"E"=ersatz/substitute, but could also mean Eisenbahnbaukompagnie (railway construction company)
"r" = reserve unit

Any help is appreciated.

 

[the ringo kid]

No wonder I couldnt get it. Roughly, that means: Abteilung could be almost any size unit from Squad to an Army sized unit. Your correct in terms, Abteilung in this case is Battalion in size. Ersatz means replacement or replacement and training detachment, R is reserves. Its been too long am absence for me that the obvious was way over my head.

Going on this, I might be able to find some good info? Ill try soon as I have time.

 

[Cyrano]

Here's mine: an M 1879 Reichsrevolver. The holster is sorta weak so I don't put the revolver in it. The revolver was one of the few made by Mauser; it's stamped on the butt: B.4.A.4.12: 4th Bavarian Artillery Regiment, 4th Battery, weapon number 12. The BE burned deep into the right grip refers to the Bayerische Einwohnewehr, a Bavarian civil guard formed after WWI to keep order in the kingdom. That particular weapon stayed in service a long time.

When I got it, the hand spring was broken. The German who wroe the book on the 1879s and '83s, has a complete set of arsenal plans for the revolvers and their parts. He can make anything, probably including a complete revolver. He made me a new spring and it worked fine.

I don' have much else that's Imperial German: a few broomhandles; relatively common but expensive, and a Mauser solid frame zig-zag; very rare and even more expensive.

 

[the ringo kid]

Here's mine: an M 1879 Reichsrevolver. The holster is sorta weak so I don't put the revolver in it. The revolver was one of the few made by Mauser; it's stamped on the butt: B.4.A.4.12: 4th Bavarian Artillery Regiment, 4th Battery, weapon number 12. The BE burned deep into the right grip refers to the Bayerische Einwohnewehr, a Bavarian civil guard formed after WWI to keep order in the kingdom. That particular weapon stayed in service a long time.

When I got it, the hand spring was broken. The German who wroe the book on the 1879s and '83s, has a complete set of arsenal plans for the revolvers and their parts. He can make anything, probably including a complete revolver. He made me a new spring and it worked fine.

I don' have much else that's Imperial German: a few broomhandles; relatively common but expensive, and a Mauser solid frame zig-zag; very rare and even more expensive.

Thats a pretty piece. Also thanks on the history bit too. Ill see if I can find something on them too. I dont know if I can find the exact era? but ill look in a few books I have.