Death's Head

Dwight Gruber · 07-16-2002, 02:40 AM

Watched one of those cable history shows last night on Tiger tanks, it was noted that Panzer Korps troops had deaths head pips on their collars. Has anyone speculated about these troops as the raison d'etre for Death's Head marked Lugers?

--Dwight

Edward Tinker · 07-16-2002, 02:49 AM

Dwight, are there other programs on tv besides the History Channel?

I watch it a lot (nature stuff too) and it is pretty cool to see markings and holsters and Lugers and such, being used and part of history. Very cool.

I think your reasoning makes perfect sense, if units wore something, our guys saw it, captured it and kept it.

Garfield · 07-16-2002, 03:23 AM

Yes, Dwight:

People have speculated regarding this possiblity, however, no knowledgeable collector that I am acquainted with affords credibility to this line of speculation. As a matter of fact, several reference books, currently available, discuss the origin and authenticity of the markings.

Regards,

Ron Wood · 07-16-2002, 03:28 AM

Yep, Dwight, that is one of the options that has been considered, along with Death Head Hussars, Brunswick Hussars and Infantry, Stosstrupp, Sturmbattalion, Freikorps, Flammenwerfer units, etc. Any unit that had the Death Head as part of their insignia, either officially or unofficially, might be the origin. Although the Death Head was adopted by the SS, the Death Head Luger pre-dated this organization by several years.

Roadkill · 07-16-2002, 11:29 AM

Flip this around and see how it looks. Not what the TK is stamped on, but what its not stamped on in reference to the units that wore it. There was no hesitancy for the German procurement system to stamp everything including durable equipment like holsters. If there was a Weimar/Freikorps/SA/SS/
SD/KZ/HJ/RD/RB or even a BDM unit that had the TK as an official designation it would have been stamped all over everything including their underwear just like the SS runes are. There is probably more stuff around today with it stamped on it than ever was in 1945. Think about it.

<img src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" border="0" alt="[bigbye]" />

RK

07-16-2002, 02:40 AM	#1
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,908 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,330 Times in 435 Posts	Death's Head Watched one of those cable history shows last night on Tiger tanks, it was noted that Panzer Korps troops had deaths head pips on their collars. Has anyone speculated about these troops as the raison d'etre for Death's Head marked Lugers? --Dwight

07-16-2002, 02:49 AM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,966 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,595 Times in 2,116 Posts	Dwight, are there other programs on tv besides the History Channel? I watch it a lot (nature stuff too) and it is pretty cool to see markings and holsters and Lugers and such, being used and part of history. Very cool. I think your reasoning makes perfect sense, if units wore something, our guys saw it, captured it and kept it. __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

07-16-2002, 03:28 AM	#4
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 7,040 Thanks: 1,106 Thanked 5,257 Times in 1,724 Posts	Yep, Dwight, that is one of the options that has been considered, along with Death Head Hussars, Brunswick Hussars and Infantry, Stosstrupp, Sturmbattalion, Freikorps, Flammenwerfer units, etc. Any unit that had the Death Head as part of their insignia, either officially or unofficially, might be the origin. Although the Death Head was adopted by the SS, the Death Head Luger pre-dated this organization by several years. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

07-16-2002, 03:23 AM	#3
Garfield User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: A little SE of Nome Posts: 239 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Yes, Dwight: People have speculated regarding this possiblity, however, no knowledgeable collector that I am acquainted with affords credibility to this line of speculation. As a matter of fact, several reference books, currently available, discuss the origin and authenticity of the markings. Regards,

07-16-2002, 11:29 AM	#5
Roadkill User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 1,634 Thanks: 1 Thanked 28 Times in 17 Posts	Flip this around and see how it looks. Not what the TK is stamped on, but what its not stamped on in reference to the units that wore it. There was no hesitancy for the German procurement system to stamp everything including durable equipment like holsters. If there was a Weimar/Freikorps/SA/SS/ SD/KZ/HJ/RD/RB or even a BDM unit that had the TK as an official designation it would have been stamped all over everything including their underwear just like the SS runes are. There is probably more stuff around today with it stamped on it than ever was in 1945. Think about it. <img src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" border="0" alt="[bigbye]" /> RK