steven c
 

Steve, ran across one of your old posts concerning holsters and you had also posted a photo of some of your German bayonets. The consensus of that post was not to use too much shoe polish. What do you do with the sheaths for the bayonets? I was in the Army and know for a fact, that for an inspection, that shoe polish was used (and not sparingly) on all leather and anything that had been painted (OD at that time) was painted so as to look like the day it was issued. I am sure that the German Army was no less stringent. But the thought now-a-days is leave everything in a "found in battlefield condition" Pity the common solder who left his equipment in that shape. What is your opinion (and that of the forum) concerning maintaining your war souvenirs. As the solder who was issued the equipment would have kept them or ????

When and where were you in the Army?

I had been a seaman on the Great Lakes before being drafted into the Army in 1959. I was assigned to the Amphibious BARC part of the Transportation Corp as a seaman in Ft. Story, Va.

Although I understand your concept of stringent upkeep of gear (I did also for 20 yrs in the US Army, with many coats of blacking on my gear).

I would think that we have to be careful of putting our experience on their time period.

That said, a fresh, never used holster or luger is highly desirable more-so than a well used, but excellent item. A shame really....