German Fuse Lighter 29

Posted in Ammunition & Fusing with tags , , , , on January 9, 2023 by The Dude

Here are three Zündschnuranzünder 29 fuse lighters. These are made from brass and because of this are often found in good condition. These fuse lighters were used to light time fuses attached to a prepared charge or hollow charge. They may also be used to ignite a smoke candle or, with a trip wire attached to the pull ring, as a fuze for a booby trap, activated antitank mine, or improvised mine.

The one on the left is marked RR 486 and WaA686 for Voight & Häffner of Frankfurt-Main. The centre one is marked RR470 for Storch & Stehmann GmbH in Ruhla and dated 1939. The one on the right is marked for RR37 Machinenfabrik Donauwörth GmbH in Donauwörth. The style of the factory codes indicates these are all prewar or early wartime.

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German Druckzünder 35 Push Igniter

Posted in Ammunition & Fusing with tags , , , , on January 8, 2023 by The Dude

Here are two examples of the D.Z. 35, one prewar in brass and the other mid-late war in aluminium. These were used to fuse makeshift land mines or booby traps. They required between 125 and 150lbs of pressure to fire. The brass one is marked for Gebr. Brehmer Machinenfabrik in Leipzig-Plagwitz and dated 1938. The late war one is coded DWX for Schmöle & Comp. in Bad-Salzungen.

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German 88mm Zt.Z S/30 Timed AA Fuse

Posted in Ammunition & Fusing with tags , , , , , on January 8, 2023 by The Dude

This fuse is the Zt.Z S/30 timed anti-aircraft fuse. It was the standard German heavy fuse used right through the war on the 8.8 cm Flak 18/36/37/41. Shown is the clockwork timing mechanism as well as the bakelite transport container. This example is marked DPV indicating manufacture by Zeiss-Ikon AG in Dresden in 1941.

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German M35 Helmet

Posted in Headwear with tags , , , on September 17, 2022 by The Dude
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This is an original M35 helmet with the standard double decal. It is marked EF60 indicating production by Emaillierwerke Fulda. The 60 is the smallest size helmet made and were produced in very small numbers. This example was oversprayed in a weird purple which I carefully removed although some remains where the decal is as I didnt want to ruin that.

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Japanese Type 98 Version 3 Sun Helmet

Posted in Headwear with tags , on August 22, 2022 by The Dude

A very fragile new add to my collection is this Type 98 Sun Helmet. Designed to be worn over the Type 90 helmet these were manufactured from a variety of materials including woven straw bamboo and wooden slats. This one is the type 3 with no vents. The manufacture of these was discontinued in 1941.

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A Birchall in the Cheshire Regiment

Posted in 1914-1918 Service Medals, Family Groups & Singles with tags , , on August 22, 2022 by The Dude

This medal group belonged to a Peter Birchall. The group is impressed to 51660 PTE. P.BIRCHALL CHES. REG. Peter was enlisted in the Cheshire Regiment in 1915 and demob’d at the end of the year. He was redrafted into the Labour Corps and served the rest of the war there.

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A Birchall in the South Wales Borderers

Posted in 1914-1918 Service Medals, Family Groups & Singles with tags , , on August 22, 2022 by The Dude

This lonely orphan BWM is all I have to commemorate James Burchall. The medal is impressed to 683648 PTE J.BURCHALL S.W.B. James was initially mobilized into the South Wales Borderers (15116) in 1914 and served there until he was released to the Labour Corps in 1917. He was 29 and a labourer from Barrow in Lancashire. He was entitled to the Victory medal and the 1914-1915 Star, both lost to time. From his records he served in Salonika in Greece as well as in France, as a farrier. He was pensioned due to illness from malaria and dysentary.

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DT15 Double Drum Magazine

Posted in Magazines with tags , , , on August 19, 2022 by The Dude

Here’s an interesting magazine for a weapon I don’t have. This DT15 was intended to be used on the MG15. The MG15 was designed to be used as an onboard gun on Luftwaffe aircraft. This magazine is visually similar to the PT34 saddle drum but cannot fit on an MG34. When the supply of MG15’s led to their employment as a ground gun the DT15 followed into ground use. These were expensive to make and almost all of the examples you see are pre-war manufacture as this Star made model is.

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A Royal Navy Birchall Stoker in WW1

Posted in 1914-1918 Service Medals, Family Groups & Singles with tags , , , on March 11, 2022 by The Dude

This pair of WW1 service medals appeared off EBay. They are impressed for K46500 R. BURCHALL STO.1 R.N. Richard was born on 30th September 1892 in Wigan in Lancashire. He was a bricklayer by trade. His K prefix on his number shows that he was transferred from the Army upon enlistment to the Royal Navy on the 19th of October 1917. His first ship was HMS Vivid on the 31st of December 1917. His final posting was on HMS Dido, a cruiser, before being discharged on the 19th of February 1919.

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US Springfield M1903 Battle Rifle

Posted in Firearms with tags , , , on January 15, 2022 by The Dude

The trouble with this bloody hobby is that it’s just too easy to pick away at the siderails and going squirreling off into the forest. Primarily I collect Axis infantry weapons but when you have been going as long as I have then you start getting to the end of the list. Just recently I bought my first US infantry firearm, this perfect 1937 date M1903. Look upon my works ye mighty and despair.

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A Birchall, Too Old for the Trenches

Posted in 1914-1918 Service Medals, Family Groups & Singles with tags , , , on January 15, 2022 by The Dude

This is a lonely little orphan Victory Medal for Pioneer James Burchell of the Royal Engineers. The medal is engraved 110501 PNR.J.BURCHELL R.E. James enlisted voluntarily on August 14th 1915 at the age of 46. While this seems old for the time he did indicate 5 years prior service with the Royal Sussex Regiment. James was retired sick and no longer fit for service on the 31st of July 1916. He was entitled to the SWB #236,996.

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Japanese Carcano Type I Rifle

Posted in Firearms with tags , , , , on December 24, 2021 by The Dude

Here’s a less common rifle. Once the China War got really going the IJN found it increasingly difficult to get small arms as all of the domestic Japanese production was going to the Army. In response they sent a mission to Europe to buy a battle rifle. They were on a budget, they found the Czechs, Germans and Swedes too expensive so they settled on an Italy Carcano rework. Note that it is visually very similar to the Type 38 long rifle and was chambered in the same round, 6.5 Arisaka.

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Savage No4 Mk1* Rifle

Posted in Firearms with tags , , , , on December 24, 2021 by The Dude

Because I am getting to the end of the German small arms I decided to grow my US & British groups. Luckily this one came past me as it kind of fits in with both countries. This rifle, made by the Stevens subsidiary of the Savage Arms Company was intended for supply to the British through the Lend-Lease program. It’s dated 1943.

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Bergmann BMP-34 SMG

Posted in Firearms with tags , , , on December 18, 2021 by The Dude

The latest addition to my Axis small arms collection and just about the last SMG I was missing. This is a 1934 manufactured Bergmann BMP-34. Not to be confused with the Steyr MP-34 here. This gun was produced under license by Walther for the Danish manufacturer Bergmann and the design later saw life as the MP-35, supplied in some number for the Waffen-SS. The low serial on this one makes me think it is either from the original company or one of the licensed copies made by Shultz & Larsen. It has the early 200mm barrel.

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German 3.7x265B AA Round

Posted in Ammunition & Fusing with tags , , , on December 11, 2021 by The Dude

This piece of ordnance came as an Andrew dropping. It’s a 3.7cm HE round designed to be fired from the BK-3.7 aircraft cannon as fitted on HS129’s or Ju87-G’s. It was also used in a range of 3.7cm FlaK.18/36/37/43 auto cannons.

The fuse is a 3.7-cm KOPFZUENDER ZERL. PV self destroying timed type. On acceleration the igniferous detonator in the displaced recess sets back on the striker. The flash from the detonator passes through the flash channels to the powder pellet in the radial channel and to the lower end of the delay filling in the first of the vertical channels. When the pellet in the radial channel disintegrates the bolt is thrown out-wards by centrifugal force leaving the striker held off the detonator in the magazine by the creep action resulting from deceleration.

On impact the striker is driven in by the hammer and pierces the detonator in the top of the magazine. During flight, the burning of the delay composition in the first vertical channel is transmitted by the gunpowder in the traverse channel to the delay composition in the second vertical channel. When direct action does not occur before the composition burns to the base of the second channel, the disk of gunpowder confined in the top of the magazine adapter is ignited and explodes and thus initiates the detonation of the magazine.

The fuse was manufactured by BLW, that is Gritzner-Kayser AG in Karlsruhe-Durlach in 1943. The casing is marked as manufactured in 1940 for a Flak 18.

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Holster for Leuchtpistole 34

Posted in Flares and Flareguns, Holsters, Parts & Accessories with tags , , on November 28, 2021 by The Dude

This has been sitting unloved in my closet for a few years, I forgot to put it up here when I first got it. It’s the holster for the German 1934 model flare pistol, here. This example is made primarily from a material called prestoff, which is a kind of treated, pressed paper pulp. The only leather on it is the parts that were likely to be flexed repeatedly. It’s well stamped but illegible.

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Enfield Rifle Breech Action Cover

Posted in Parts & Accessories with tags , , on November 28, 2021 by The Dude

A fairly simple bit of kit this, it’s a canvas action cover for the Enfield No4 Rifle. This particular example was manufactured in Canada by The Dominion Regalia Company of Toronto.

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German reused Czech VZ-24 Bayonet

Posted in Bayonets with tags , , , , on November 28, 2021 by The Dude

A few months ago I was finally able to get hold of a Czech VZ-24 with clear signs of German issue. I then went looking for the correct bayonet for it. The frog is marked for Friedrich Schäfer Ulm/Do. 1940. This bayonet has had its muzzle ring removed before reissue, a typical German standard.

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A Birchall MID in the RAFVR

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals, Family Groups & Singles with tags , , , , on November 21, 2021 by The Dude

An almost lost group here to Leading Aircraftsman R.Birchall (1155198) in the RAFVR. The group came with a Welsh Regiment cap badge so I assume he was originally enrolled in that unit before transferring to the RAFVR. He was awarded an MID oakleaf in June 1945.

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Atlantique Bar for the Commemorative Medal of the 1939-45 War

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags , , on October 8, 2021 by The Dude

This is the bar issued to French service members who served in the Atlantic Theatre between September 3rd 1939 and May 8th 1945. It was intended to be placed on the Commemorative Medal of the 1939-45 War, like this example here.

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A Birchall in the Royal Fusiliers in France

Posted in 1914-1918 Service Medals, Family Groups & Singles with tags , , on October 6, 2021 by The Dude

This group is the usual suspects for a mid war soldier in France. These three were awarded to Alfred Charles Burchell. They are impressed to K-1445 PTE A Burchell, R.Fus. Alfred disembarked into France on 17th November 1915. On the 8th of July 1919 he was released into Z Pool, basically a civilian again.

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Another Birchall in the Liverpool Regiment

Posted in 1914-1918 Service Medals, Family Groups & Singles with tags , , on October 6, 2021 by The Dude

This lonely little Orphan is the BWM, or British War Medal for Private Harold Birchall. The medal is impressed to 330057 PTE. H. BIRCHALL . L’POOL R. At some point Harold was transferred to the Labour Corps and issued a second number, 325057.

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An Old Contemptible In The Sussex Regiment

Posted in 1914-1918 Service Medals, Family Groups & Singles with tags , , on October 6, 2021 by The Dude

Here’s a nice WW1 group to an early arriver in France. Impressed to 9095 L.Cpl H.W.BURCHELL 2/R SUSS:R. & L-9095 T.SGT H.W.BURCHELL R.SUSS.R. This man landed in France on the 12th of August 1914 and has the November Bar on his 1914 Star to show it.

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German Vehicle Ammunition Box for MG34/42

Posted in Magazines, Parts & Accessories with tags , , , , , on October 6, 2021 by The Dude

Nice simple item here. This is the ammunition box that was carried inside vehicles mounted with an MG34 or MG42, like the SdKfz 250/251 Halftracks. This is a nice early one dated 1939 and manufactured by Franke & Co GMBH, Machinenwerke in Leipzig.

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German B-1E Incendiary Bomb

Posted in Bombs with tags , , , on October 5, 2021 by The Dude

This is a nasty little piece of work and the third of my German Luftwaffe bombs. This is a 1kg Elektron-Brande-Bombe. It was originally filled with 680g of thermite and was dropped in conjunction with HE bombs. The HE bomb, like this one here, punched a hole in the roof of the building and this little shyte burned the building down. Obviously dewat but still a bit of fun.

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