The Armourer March 2023

One of the stories in the news this month comes from down under, courtesy of regular contributor Graham Caldwell who sent through some clippings. It’s about an auction being held in Queensland, with items from the estate of a deceased Waffen-SS officer. Now many of them appear to be the usual German militaria like daggers and medals, but in amongst these are some related to concentration camps and the persecution of the Jews. Are these genuine military collectables, or the source of morbid interest at best and neo-Nazi race doctrines at worse? In my opinion no, concentration camp items are not legitimate military collectables for someone’s private collection. They are historical items that need to be in museums to warn against the dangers of totalitarianism, fascism and racism. Does this…

MUSEUMS February at NAM Here’s what’s coming up at the National Army Museum in Chelsea, London, during February, alongside the long-running exhibitions. London Scottish House An exclusive 90 minute, guided tour of London Scottish House, one of the most historic army drill halls in London. This Grade II-listed building was originally designed as the drill hall and headquarters of the London Scottish Regiment. Date: 2 February, 11am Cost: Free, but member’s only Civil Defence Communities in Second World War Britain During World War II, millions of men and women of every class, generation and region of Britain volunteered for civil defence duties. In this talk, Dr Jessica Hammett will examine how civil defence personnel understood their roles and represented themselves as essential wartime workers. Date: 3 February, 12noon Cost: Free…

An auction of National Socialist militaria, including items related to concentration death camps,, at Danielle Elizabeth auction house in Queensland, Australia has stirred up outrage in the Jewish community. The online auction features 166 lots, a number of which have come from the son of a deceased German Waffen-SS officer. The items include 500 photos featuring piles of skulls and a stretcher entering a crematorium, a ‘Jews Unwanted’ building sign from 1938, Star of David armband, as well as the usual flags and daggers featuring the swastika. The Australian states of Victoria and New South Wales criminalised the public display of Nazi symbols last year and there are concerns that if Queensland joins them the remaining, smaller states will follow suit, leading to a complete Australia-wide ban. The New South…

Fine arms at C&T The Fine Arms Armour & Miitaria auction at C&T takes places on 8-9 February and here’s a selection of what has been consigned. First up, a WWII German DRL Sports Badge for War Wounded. This is a fine example of the special pattern award badge for war wounded with the golden wreath and silvered lettering to the centre. Reverse of the award has Wernstein Jena makers mark and ‘DRGM 35269’. Complete with the original pin and catch fixing. The estimate is £100-£200. We’ve covered the Berlin Olympics before and here’s your chance to get hold of the 1936 Olympic games medal complete with its original ribbon and housed in the original white leatherette case of issue with Olympic rings impressed to the lid. Remains in generally…

We had a quick look at the early consignments last month, so here are more of the lots in the auction that runs from 18-26 February. First up, an M33 SA Service Dagger with hanger. The dagger comes with a clean blade showing the etched motto ‘Alles für Deutschland’. It’s RZM ‘M7/83’ maker-marked and features a nice light brown wooden handle with original inlaid SA roundel and eagle. Includes the brown leather hanger. Starting price will be £528 (BP is 22.5%). What do you make of this next item, it’s a Wound Badge in gold of the so-called Condor Legion type, 1st pattern. It’s a nice, gold-plated tombak badge that’s hollow inside, in nice condition. Bidding starts at £440. Interesting lot next, centre around Panzerfaust manuals and various other bits…

The end of January and start of February sees four militaria auctions at the European auction house. There’s Antique Arms and Armour on 31 Jan, Fine Antique and Modern Firearms on 1 Feb, Orders and Military Collectibles until 1918 on 2 Feb and Orders & Military Collectibles from 1919 on 3 Feb. Let’s get things started with the Firearms auction and an Ottoman blunderbuss pistol from the first half of the 19th century. It has a Damascus barrel widened in the form of a funnel at the muzzle, upper side decorated with rich silver ornaments. The flintlock is decorated en suite but the lock mechanism is defective, battery missing. Half stock with full bone and brass wire inlays and silver furniture in relief, stamped on the trigger plate. Length 45cm.…