1552

WWII GERMAN GROUP CAPTURED DURING THE BATTLE OF

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:1,250.00 USD Estimated At:2,500.00 - 3,500.00 USD
WWII GERMAN GROUP CAPTURED DURING THE BATTLE OF
THE BULGE INCLUDING AN MAB MODEL A SEMI AUTO PISTOL. This group of fine WWII German war souvenirs was captured by Andrew Piwonski during the Battle of the Bulge. There is a large, framed newspaper article showing him holding the uniform and relating his stories from the Battle of the Bulge. PFC Piwonski was a Mortarman in the 5th Infantry Division, and many of his uniforms and equipment are offered in another lot of this auction. Included in this lot of captured souvenirs is a Lt. Colonel of Infantry dress tunic with the correct shoulder boards, collar tabs, and breast eagle. The second buttonhole has a ribbon for a War Merit Cross and a WWI Iron Cross. The Iron Cross has a Spange attached. Above the left breast pocket is a Close Combat Award, and on the pocket is a Tank Assault Badge. There are two ribbon bars above the Close Combat Award, one of which is appropriate for the uniform. The coat is accompanied by gray corduroy riding britches with a reinforced seat and period suspenders. An excellent German infantry officer’s cap is also included. The cap features a sage green crown with a dark green band and is piped in white. The crown has an aluminum Army eagle in the center. The band has a bullion wreath with a cockade. Silver bullion chinstrap with pebbled-finished side buttons. Black visor with brown underside. Field green sweatband with taupe rayon lining. Diamond-shaped sweat shield marked “Pekuro” in a diamond. The lot further includes a pair of black officer’s dress boots, a canteen with associated straps and cup, a pair of field binoculars, and a pebbled-finished russet leather map case with a map of Europe included. This extensive group also includes an army dagger measuring 15 5/8” overall. The blade is marked “ORIGINAL (squirrel) Eickhorn SOLINGEN”. Plated crossguard, pommel, and ferrule. Light orange grip with an appropriately tied knot attached. Plated scabbard. Finally, this lot contains an MAB model A “REX” vest pocket pistol. Cal. 25 ACP. S# 238 (under the left grip panel). Internet research indicates this vest pocket pistol was originally mfg. by Gregorio Bolumburu of Eibar, Spain, as indicated by “REX” on slide marks. Leon Barthe of Bayonne, France, imported the pistols after WWI and added “PISTOLET AUTOMATIQUE” and “BAYONNE” markings to the slide. The pistol is a copy of a Browning “BABY” or Colt 1908 Vest Pocket pistol with a 2” barrel. Two-piece checkered horn grips. MAGS: 1 – 7 rd. The pistol includes a brown leather holster. CONDITION: most items generally show light wear. The uniform and pants remain quite crisp, with little or no damage. The hat shows wear to the sweatband only and no significant moth damage. The dagger, overall, shows light wear but has been denazified by breaking off the wreath below the eagle; the wreath is present in a small bag and attached to the scabbard. The knot shows moderate wear at the joint. The pistol has traces of original blue mixed with cleaned pitting, spots of patina, and large areas of finish loss. Very good bore. The holster shows moderate wear. (02-21780/BF, 23-7600/MD). CURIO. $2,500-3,500.