Sold Gallery
These pages display a number of the rare items that I have had the pleasure of selling. To view more details and a larger photograph please click on the thumbnail picture.
WWII U.S.Mk.2A1 Fragmentation grenade.
The definitive U.S. grenade, the Mk.2A1 Fragmentation grenade was introduced in 1944 being used through to the end of the War, Korea and to the early part of the Vietnam conflict. Fitted with a 1944 dated M10A3 igniter set used with grenades having fillers that do not require a detonator. Body marked with manufacturer's casting marks. This example is in excellent, above average condition. INERT Available within UK only
MOST UNUSUAL SOUVENIR EARLY LUFTWAFFE BROWN BELT A
I have seen this very clever type of work done with German WW2 leather belts before, but have never owned one. This has either been done by the original owner, perhaps as a POW, or done by the veteran who bought this back as a souvenir. This is an early brown leather Luftwaffe OR’s or NCO’s belt, along with the early 1st type buckle with ‘droop tailed’ Luftwaffe eagle. At some time the original interior retaining bar, for the male part of the buckle, has come off, and a twisted wire system has been installed to hold the belt hook, and it works very well indeed! The belt is amazing! Without cutting the ends it or damaging it in any way, the belt leather has been split into 3 strips and then platted the whole length! I have absolutely no idea how they have done this and it looks fantastic. Certainly very out of the ordinary, all 100% original but craftily re-worked to give it a different appeal.
MOST UNUSUAL SOUVENIR EARLY LUFTWAFFE BROWN BELT A
I have seen this very clever type of work done with German WW2 leather belts before, but have never owned one. This has either been done by the original owner, perhaps as a POW, or done by the veteran who bought this back as a souvenir. This is an early brown leather Luftwaffe OR’s or NCO’s belt, along with the early 1st type buckle with ‘droop tailed’ Luftwaffe eagle. At some time the original interior retaining bar, for the male part of the buckle, has come off, and a twisted wire system has been installed to hold the belt hook, and it works very well indeed! The belt is amazing! Without cutting the ends it or damaging it in any way, the belt leather has been split into 3 strips and then platted the whole length! I have absolutely no idea how they have done this and it looks fantastic. Certainly very out of the ordinary, all 100% original but craftily re-worked to give it a different appeal.
ORIGINAL FACTORY 10m ROLL OF RUSSIAN FRONT MEDAL R
One of these amazing ‘new, old stock’ discoveries. I have a busy contact in Austria and this, along with many other items, were found by him in a taylor’s shop which was finally closing down. Owned by the same family since before WW1, it was a military outlet in the 1930’s. In there old back room, were many small boxes of items kept from that time. This was one of them. A complete and uncut roll of 35mm wide ribbon for the Russian Front Award. The roll is 10 meters long and is contained in the original brown paper loop with 10m printed in black. In mint condition , there are many possibilities with this. Cut it up into 20cm lengths and sell individually or keep the roll as it is, and use it as part of a ‘shop-front ‘ display or similar. (Individual 20cm lengths/10m = 50 pieces)
F.A.N.Y. Beret.
WW2 Beret for a member of the F.A.N.Y. Manufactured by Scott & Co of Piccadilly, this official ' W.T.S ( F.A.N.Y.) ' beret is made from a fine serge with a fine glazed cotton interior onto which a large maker's label is sewn. Bronze cap badge by Gaunt with a name tag sewn to the lining. An example of the headwear favoured by special duties F.A.N.Y. members. In excellent unmothed condition.
MINT CONDITIONED GOLD MOTHERS CROSS IN CASE OF ISS
This is the 'Ehrenkreuz der Deutschen Mutter.'Just to get my description correct! The Mothers Cross is in mint condition, the case has a few age scuffs and scrapes. Blue issue case with white rayon silk lining to the lid and yellow flock finish to the fitted part. There is a maker printed to the lid HANS GNAD. VIENNA, so an Austrian made piece. Box has the gold outline of the cross printed on the lid. Cross itself is lovely, with all the gilt finish and original ribbon. Usual facsimile Adolf Hitler signature to the reverse of the medal. Awarded to NS mothers with 8 or more children!!
STEEL OR’s WEHRMACHT BELT BUCKLE.
This is a nice one piece, pressed steel Wehrmacht belt buckle, complete with claw and welded hook. All traces of paint have gone from the front. Looks to be traces of dark green/grey on the reverse. Buckle marked under roller claw ‘40’.
Souvenired Tropical Field Cap (Feldmutze).
Produced in olive ribbed cotton, typical for use in desert campaigns and lined in lightweight red cotton and stamped ' Clemens Wagner, Braunschweig-Hamburg 41 ' with a size stamping of 57. This example has seen little or no use and was souvenired with all insignia being stripped. The original eagle has been retained but the national cockade and soutache have been lost. A small residue of the soutache indicates the green of the Jager. Generally good condition with one of the zinc ventilation grommets now missing with a slight ' salty ' residue to both sides and crown of the cap. Unknown why the souvenir hunter removed the insignia but has come directly as a result of a declutter of a house in Worcs.
WW2 Official Ortsgruppe Banner of the Deutsche Arb
1450x1250mm double-sided Ortsgruppe banner of the Deutsche Arbeits Front. Two-piece D.A.F. emblem laid onto a red flag with silver wire brocade to three sides. To the top left corner on both sides is a multi-piece Orts panel in this case for Holsterhausen near Essen. Like many souvenired pieces this example has had the mounting rings and their attachments removed. There is some age related damage to various areas with some rips and holes and the brocade has dried and worn. Various parts of the banner, particularly the Orts panel have suffered the attentions of an amateur seamstress with some poorly executed repairs which would benefit from a more professional approach. However, all of this sounds worse than the reality,it is still an impressive banner and has been priced with the faults in mind.
WW2 British Beja Battle badge.
Original unofficial WW2 British Beja Battle badge, stamped out in white metal in the shape of a shield with a raised edge. The centre is covered with a dark red felt and mounted on it in white metal is a Tiger tank pierced by Crusader's sword (the sign of the First Army) and small plate bearing the single word 'BEJA'. The badge measures 2 inches by 2¾ inches and has a pin brooch fastening on the back. Created by the C.O. of 172nd Field Regiment R.A., in recognition of the achievement of his men in their baptism of fire where men from the regiment were instrumental in halting and destroying the advance of a German armoured group. In recognition of their courage and bravery he personally designed and subsequently had made by Arab craftsmen in Tunis, a badge to commemorate the battle. It was awarded mainly to those members of the Regiment who were in the gun crews, command Posts and OPs at the time of the battle. The exact number of badges awarded is uncertain but it was less than two hundred although it is known that a few at least were also probably bought from the makers by members of the 5th Hampshire's. This unofficial badge was worn without too much regimentation either above the right breast pocket of the Battle Dress Blouse or on the right sleeve below the badge of the 46th Division. In good, worn condition, slightly dusty but otherwise excellent. Scarce.