online Militaria dealer - Antique-Militaria [UK]
magnify icon Search militaria Medals - Arms - Militaria
Home icon Antique Militaria Home for the SEs and the curious Site map People shaking hands icon Historic comments
Title Student fencing sash and enamel badge
Nationality German
Period 1931
Price £75.00

This silk sash with the little enamel badge, both sporting the Imperial black/white/red colours, epitomises the student duelling world of this era, together with the logo (picked out in silver bullion) 'Rast Ich so rost Ich', loosely: 'Inactive I rust'. In Bavaria the duelling tradition was still active into the 1950s.

The sabre used was the schlaegl, with a blunt point and edges razor sharp for the last six inches of both sides of the blade. Each contender would take it in turn to attack and, when defending, you had to stand your ground! The eyes and neck were protected with goggles and a silk scarf. The target area was both cheeks. A doctor was usually present to sort out the wounded parties. Generally speaking, no one was ever fatally injured, but hefty looking scars were always in evidence in such fraternities! The enamel pin is named on the back to 'Ferdi.Karl-Heinz Werner - Weihn[acht] 31'. I wonder if he survived WW2?

The sash is a bit on the frail side and the enamel on the badge is in good shape.

If you want to comment on this item—re quality, age, etc—please email me.


[Ephemera : Miscellaneous : German : 20th Century]

testimonials

I have in the last six months inherited my late father Alan Swain's police memorabilia collection along with much paperwork receipts etc. I would like to pass on to you my thanks for such good dealership with my father going back to the late 80s and well into the 1990s.

Laurence Swain, UK, 20.08.2016

Hanger arrived safe and sound 11.30ish today. Very pleased, it's as expected. Your excellent pics make all the difference in terms of confident buying over the net. As a matter of interest, the frog, which as you said is very a/f, is, as you thought, 'spot on'. On closer inspection it is a mk.1 Naval Frog, designated 'for cutlasses'. Date seems around 1860ish give or take.

By the way, I think your site is very user friendly. Seems to work much better than many and up to date, a rarity!!!

C W, UK, 20.04.2006

more...