Find History For Your Imperial Luger~~
 

George Anderson sold me a DWM matching artillery that I could track back including a pictures of its unit and also individuals themselves. A great source is Google 'images'. I mearly searched the unit and came up with these images and more. Also it can be researched in this site ~~~~ https://archive.org/stream/histories...ge/n5/mode/2up And an alternate https://archive.org/details/historiesoftwohu00unit Also a complete history. http://www.pals.org.uk/ir169_e1.htm Every luger had and still has its own story! Some are eraced by time however many give clues to their individual past and continued living personality. It is so rewarding to find at least part of its' former life and history and will no doubt appreciate its' value and interest!! I don't believe there are no other firearms with such vintage or beauty! Its an honor to own and more to share with our fellow collectors those who understand the true worth! Ps Thank you all for your assistance and continued patience~~~Eric

Storys of the 169th in front line at the Battle of the Sommes http://www.pals.org.uk/lais_e.htm And a complete index between the British and German http://www.pals.org.uk/sitemap.htm

Eric, thanks much for posting your research on this fine artillery luger. These objects we collect have much more meaning when we can learn about their former owners. I did similar research on an '06 Navy. I plan to save your work here as I have a regimental stein from a Hornist (bugler) Just, 5th company, 8th Bad. Regt. 169. Interesting coincidence.
Nick

Eric, first of all I'd like to say thank you a lot for your efforts posting your researches.

I've only got a very small collection, but when I look at my guns, I often find myself to say that it's a real shame that they cannot talk, God knows how many pages of "real" history they could tell us.

Not to mentioned that half the worlds' population either owned one, shot one or was shot by our finest, surviving 2 world wars periods, Imperial, Weimer Nazi, post war several dictators. According to a study our luger are the most recognised firearm in the last hundred year. They will never become obsolete and new generations of collectors appear every year. There are hundreds of varieties, conditions, makes and model thus affording a new collector to their first luger purchase a nice correct pretty buy in at a relative small cost. In 1968 Charles Kenyan in 'lugers at Random' displayed close to 200 individual varieties! That was over 40 years ago!! Its said "bread eaten soon forgotten" First you can't eat lugers and don't fit in your wallet! I've never had any lose value. You will never forget your first and maybe like me I still cherish my first and far lasting, longer than any of my exwives! In an answer how many luger were made? Not Enough!!~Eric

The Matching Head Gear!
 

George Anderson provided both the artillery, the 2 drums and a matching Baden pickelhaube. It wasn't till I actually held mine that I realise they weren't made of metal. I guess they were replaced by metal more familiar sometime during later during the later part of first world war. They are so fragile and can't believe any survived!!! This is by far the finest source on the subject! http://www.worldwar1.com/sfgph.htm ~~~

Eric,

So what is the hat made of? Is it leather?

What are the bright yellow/orange things on the sides?

thanks,
Geo

Believe or not leather. I can't imagine any making it through the harsh conditions and warfare!!http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pickelhaube

Most picklehaubs are leather. The exceptions are royal guards, ceremonial troops, etc. The different cockades on the sides show origen. The red, black, white is for Germany and the orange,yellow would be for the Baden region.
Chile still has hundreds of these which are worn at the cadet school. They are of original German manufacture and the only difference from an original officer's pickle (brass spike, trim and mailplate chinstrap) are the Chilean shield on the front and the color of the cockades. I have an example that also includes the rare horsehair plume.

I bought one as a kid, which I still have. At the time of purchase I paid and extra $15 or $25 for "rosettes", as I remember them called. Mine are the red, white, black ones.
My helmet is a spitting image of the one in the photos.
Out of curiousity, what is the current value of that one, if I might ask?
dju

Eric:

A great post!! Thanks for your research, pictures and sites where we may find out more our unit marked Lugers.

Ron

Its easy , just search for example WW1 German artillery units and with one touch....http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...lery_regiments I wish we had searching ability in Law School back in 1981!

LOL... How often I have thought of that. I did my grad work (M.Div) in late 60s and the Seminary didn't even have internet. Even 30 years later the only thing I could get into in Korea was TELNET, using Archie and Veronica to read papers in the great European Universities. Never foreseeing the day when those files would be locked tighter than a drum....sigh.

You know what makes it the "good ol' days" don't you? A poor memory and a vivid imagination....

And because they are GONE!:)

I located the original barracks of the Baden 169th artillery pictured above~~~Eric http://www.pals.org.uk/ir169_e2.htm

Descibes the battle with the British 9th and our 169th infantry at the Battle of the Somme in 1916~~ http://94.195.153.42/History/WW1/Acc...nPals/Pals.htm

Finally the end to both sides!http://www.greatwar.co.uk/places/somme-cemeteries.htm and http://www.greatwar.co.uk/somme/memo...field-park.htm Research your favorite unit marked gun! Its like a luger mystery novel that will add to your excitement, increase its' value and restore its' life and history that had been lost over a century ago! No other firearm can possibly ever claim the same! ~~~Eric