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I got this one recently. JFS Josef Felix and Sohne, really nice to see in the original packet.

As promised, here is one of my World War I gas masks. This is one of the only painted items in my collection at this time and features a rather crude 2nd Division Indian head. Specifically, the painting is for 1st Battalion of the 23rd Infantry Regiment. It is named to a Robert R. Pollock of Company B, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Division. The bag was made by Simmons in 1918 and has held up quite well. I also tried photographing the maintenance card, but it is too shiny and was difficult to read, so I will add it later when I can get my scanner to cooperate. There is an issue date for the mask or canister, I am not sure which, and it is October 19, 1918. In the past I have attempted to research Mr. Pollock, but haven't found a match that is 100%. Unfortunately, the bag is heavily soiled from what looks and smells like old grease from a dirty engine. But on the flip side of things, it apparently helped preserve the mask. There is minimal rust on the canister, and aside from the hose being mashed for god knows how long, it is all quite supple. So instead of further rambling, here it is and enjoy. Thanks, Mike

Here is my first post and I figured I would put up some photos of my US WWI uniforms. I don't collect much outside of what would of actually been worn in the trenches, so my uniform collection is probably bland for those expecting to see unit patches and various other adornments that would of been added Post-Armistice. So first up is a rather interesting wool coat. This one in particular was made by Henry Sonneborn & Co., Inc. in Baltimore, Maryland. It is contract number 847 dated September of 1917. It is made of a heavier blanket style wool and does not have the cotton lining that is seen in earlier uniforms. The overall texture of the wool itself is rather soft compared to others that I own or have handled. Specifically, this tunic features the plain US and Infantry disks and a single corporal's chevron on the right arm as was the regulation during the war. So please bear with me as I am trying out a new camera and attempting to figure out the proper settings to get the best shot. So without further ado, here are the photos. Thank you, Mike

On an early morning in Oktober (2013) it was time to check out a big piece of Iron that some mates of mine had found in 2011! Because the site was in the middle of the dunes and A LOT had been changed in 2 years it took us more then 2 hours to find the spot. But after 2 hours we finally found it… After some heavy digging more and more metal saw the surface, it became very clear that this was some sort of gun or a part of it. After removing more sand and going deeper, suddenly it became clear! It was a mounting system for a german anti aircraft gun! We found the remains of the firing pedals and the mount for the gunners seat. Most of the parts seems te be in good condition after 70 years in the ground. All in all its a unique finding of a 3.7cm FLAK mount! All in all it took us the whole day and we had to go back home by the end of the day. Short after we heard that it was discovered by other people. They pulled it out with a tractor and gave it to a Bunker Museum. On the last picture you see how it looks nowadays. Hope you guys enjoy the story. Erwin

Glad you got it sorted, some superb items been shown here..

Could be the internal sleeve to an anti-personnel mine......but I'll have a look and check....

Welcome aboard Erwin.. Old mister Bruce gets about...

Cheers Rock, Probably about 8 years since i got the first ones. Was into this type of stuff before i went ordnance mad.

Here's another one of mine. A nice, in Belgium privately made, Artillerie SchirmMutze. Also in worn condition. This one came with it's tunic, but I only bought the cap. Still regret that!!! Grrr. Nonetheless a very nice cap. I use it for my Stug Commander display. Cheers Erwin

It didn't sit in the case, it was a separate loading round.

Named red frock to Major Orr of the Welsh Regiment dating to circa 1909. He served through WWI being shot in the head at one stage and recovered to return to the front, he served post was at the Military academy and was commander of 2/Welsh in the late 1920's. i have managed to find out a very full history for him, including an actual post card from him as well as online descriptions of his wounding, his wedding and lots of other information.

I have to post my banner. 40' x 10' the swastika is 56" inches in diameter, doubled sided. (I would post more pics but it won't let me.)

Not really a buckle collector but pieces i have came across while looking for other things, and the prices were too good to say no. A rough looking sa buckle with some dodgy repairs, a two piece aluminium parade buckle, steel HJ buckle, aluminium r.a.d. buckle and a nice little brass nazi sympathizer buckle.

Picked up for £15 on ebay. No liner but they are easy enough to find.

Well, part of it. All gone a few years back, find it hard to look at these pics as I'd never get a lot of these back...

Web forums tend to build a better community, totally different from Facebook... It's almost like a comfortable group of friends...

I think they are cracking down and trying to 'clean' up their house. Just read an article on Twitter about FB now shutting down marijuana pages/sites. Fair do's of course,so i can see armour/guns and collectors type pages getting the chop. Like Ebay when they had a purge a few years back

Will be better pics this weekend once ive sussed out this little camera ive been donated. Sent off for a USB cable via Fleabay. Im gonna storm the forums with pics

I much prefer getting stuck into a Web forum rather than through facecake.. All it takes is for them to pull the plug and thats that.

Brilliant find. Love it

It should be found in a search, maybe we should start a gallery or real v fake?

Thanks! That did the trick!

Here's some of my headgear.

Had that problem too. Press refresh page and it Should resolve the problem

Love it!

Gorgeous...

@Steve T @Satan1800

Henry William Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey, known as Lord Uxbridge at the time of Waterloo when he was hit by French cannon fire he said to Wellington: "By God, sir, I've lost my leg!" — to which Wellington replied, "By God, sir, so you have!" Classic British understatement I think!

Hi guys! Erwin here. Born in Arnhem in the St Elisabeth Gasthuis (famous field hospital of the British (and Germans) during Market Garden), brought up with stories about the war by my grandparents. So since I was little I had a lot of interest about the second world war. Started with the metal detector but because time often in a issue I quit with that. In 2006 my and my friend rediscovered the famous Big Hole and were dumb enough to put it on the web. Result, every digger in the Netherlands soon dug there and even GermanMilitaria.com has now some Big Hole relics for sale haha. Still had a blast in that period and found a lot of stuff. Almost collecting for 15 years now. Main focus are Summer cloth tunics and HBT tunics. I like my stuff wellworn and have TOTALLY NO interest in mint stuff hahaha. Another focus is to make my mannequins as realistic as possible. (see pictures). Since 2 years I started selling off stuff from my own collection and sometimes buying up other collections to sell them (hence my name). With this I fund my own collection. Other hobbies of mine are Mountainbiking and I'am a soldier of the Dutch Army Reserve, 11th Air Assault. I try to be a value to this new forum which I think is a very good idea and one of the best looking and modern forums so far on the web! Big Thumps up!! BTW: Not my weapons, I'am the guy on the left and not my Tank

Look what i have in my collection Erwin....

Might be worth putting the pic of the DAK cloth badge in the archives Lenny as an example of a genuine one?

Absolutely true, BUT it gave us a headache when we found out that others pulled it out. Hahahaha Nonetheless happy that they preserve it

Cheers Mav, Thats why im filling the workshop with them. Got loads more.

Nice never seen one with its packet before.

Love it, very impressive

Well, as I said before, sometimes good, sometimes bad. Today, good. Scored a nice single BWM full entitlement to an original member of the 198th Bn CEF. I am sure, in a couple days, I will hate eBay again. LOL

Awesome. I have never seen one before. I like the look of it

This is the first place I have seen this many DAK examples. Really cool.

Nice! Recently got my first. I have some catching up to do.

Really cool buckle!

I buy quite a few items from ebay, there is still a lot of good buys to be had if you collect British items. There are issues and lots of faked or pimped up items on there so you need to know what your buying. My latest problem was the seller sent me the wrong cap, FFS, but I phoned him and the correct cap is on its way to me, its just I have to find the time and effort to send back the wrong cap to him. He said he would repay me for the postage but its also my time that's being wasted because he could not package up the correct item. That said I got a real bargain this week from there, so its not all bad.

Correct, it is indeed a firing pin......but that would be TOO easy. Firing pin from what?

I'll take the lack of replies as a 'NO IDEA!' Bottom section of either a No 42 or No 848 British bomb nose fuze.

We have many of the same buckles but you also have some that I don't (envious!). Do any of your ww1 Saxon buckles have unit markings stamped on them? (mine don't, unfortunately). Thanks for the extra pics! Rob

Excellent topic to start with Lenny. Got this one in the other week. A wellworn Panzer Schirmmutze. Just how I like them! Cheers Erwin

Very cool!! The 50 has got to be pretty scarce? Looks awesome! Rob

Look good to me, although far from an expert...

Size isn't everything...

Thanks Dak D. Glad you like 'em! Rob