Pioneer impression

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Schäfer
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Re: Pioneer impression

Post by Schäfer »

von papen wrote:Did all pioneers have the trade patch and (although quite a broad question) what do you think i should purchase first?
I was thinking the offer sof have on the grenade bags and 6 m24 grenades for £55 and perhaps wirecutters?
http://cgi.ebay.de/Drahtschere-der-Wehr ... dZViewItem

Would these be acceptable and where could i purchase the pouch, i haven't seen any were that sells one.

vp
All pioniers should have had the patch, but I guess with shortages towards the end of the war then this may not have been the case. The patch is available on the net and I'm sure Cyrus Lee of Soldat.com could make some for you. The SBG actually ordered a quantity in bulk from a specialist maker in the UK. However, these ran out years ago.

The most iconic and perhaps readily recognisable items of pionier equipment is really the assault pack so perhaps purchase that first. It consists of the two side pouches and back-pack. The SOF stuff isn't really the correct shape, size or weave of material, though. There is an outlet in the US that sells this, and a website in Germany, I'll have to try and remember which ones (I've been handicapped somewhat due to losing all my links and info.)

The short drahtschere should be acceptable, but remember it should have the bakelite/carbon grips (these are often missing) and should have a waffenampt stamp on the metal, if genuine. For that price they wouldn't be genuine, however.

http://www.kommiss.com This German chap, Holger Frankenburger, used to attend Beltring and started me off years ago. I also bought my FW41 from him.

http://www.ostfront.com Based in the US, has some gems from time to time. I note he currently stocks an engineer manual (search for 'pioneer', pionier' and 'engineer' on his website, as you should on the WW2 part of US Ebay too.)

Another vendor, where I purchased a lot of pionier webbing and leather, was from Chris Weiss of 'Edelweis militaria' in the USA. Unfortunately, I've discovered that he no longer trades.

For research you will find this website invaluable:-

http://www.germanmilitaria.com/Heer/15G ... oneer.html
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von papen
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Re: Pioneer impression

Post by von papen »

Ima is the only place ive found that sells the full set for a decent price but from what ive read on the AHF it aint good quality at all and the customer service isnt much either. Plus i dont like buying stuff from the US cause of import duty although for the more specialist stuff i guess i'll have too!
On goes the search! :mrgreen:

vp
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Re: Pioneer impression

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von papen wrote:Ima is the only place ive found that sells the full set for a decent price but from what ive read on the AHF it aint good quality at all and the customer service isnt much either. Plus i dont like buying stuff from the US cause of import duty although for the more specialist stuff i guess i'll have too!
On goes the search! :mrgreen:

vp
Without wishing to dampen your enthusiasm, it took me absolutely ages to get everything together. It's not really something that a lot of people portray, hence the lack of kit and interest by most vendors.
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Re: Pioneer impression

Post by von papen »

Well ive emailed soldat.fhq about getting a pioneer trade badge and i think i might just go for an A-Frame and those grenades although i will wait till i get that book before i blow any large amount of money, learnt my lesson at the start of reenactment, jumping into buying things is just a bad idea :lol:

For instance, 'well you need some proper wool trousers, but those dot44 look nicer, go on you know you want to :twisted: '

A year later i eventually got a decent pair of m40 feldhosen!
As the saying goes buy quality or buy twice!

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Franz repper
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Re: Pioneer impression

Post by Franz repper »

I will post this out of intrest as after 1940 they are not seen
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von papen
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Re: Pioneer impression

Post by von papen »

Seems to be surrounded with some sort of lightish colour piping, is the tab elongated? id seen those crossed tools badge before but i thought it was a fantasy item as id never seen it before.

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Re: Pioneer impression

Post by Schäfer »

I've seen those but they weren't very common at all. Most W-SS Sturmpionieren had the bog standard SS runes.
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Re: Pioneer impression

Post by Franz repper »

Thats why I posted it just for intrest it is not that common like the good Schäfer said
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Re: Pioneer impression

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Franz repper wrote:Thats why I posted it just for intrest it is not that common like the good Schäfer said
A very good find, Franz. It's interesting to look at and compare the various items of insignia.

Please take a look at this website and click on 'new items.' It shows various items of pionier equipment, some of which I have. I'm not sure if Chris is still trading though. However, his items are excellent quality but he can be very expensive.

http://www.edelweissmilitaria.com

You might also find this US based pionier website useful to browse:-

http://www.afn.org/~afn41941/43stp.html
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Franz repper
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Re: Pioneer impression

Post by Franz repper »

Oh god I can spend lots there
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von papen
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Re: Pioneer impression

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Well here is my very first attempt at the pioneer badge, a very big shanks to Schäfer for the dimensions and pics!
Its pretty bad (thats why the pic is far out :lol: ) but i wanted to get a general idea of what it would take to make, and seeing as it cost me about 40p worth of black felt and silvergrey thread it wasn't a waste.
In the middle of exams but afterwards ill be going to the other side of town to a company that makes badges to see if they'll do one.

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Re: Pioneer impression

Post by Schäfer »

For a first attempt that's not bad at all!

As an aside, I've been watching 'Heimat' on DVD recently. During one of the war-time episodes there was a bomb disposal character named Otto who was wearing one of those on his greatcoat sleeve.

The unfortunate (and possibly farby) thing was that otherwise he was wearing Heer insignia but with the W-SS black diamond trade patch!

Incidentally, I found this on the net the other night. I don't know if it will help you or not:-

http://www.ima-usa.com/product_info.php ... ts_id/1563
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Re: Pioneer impression

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I saw the link to ima's set on AHF although they said the material was pretty thin and the service wasnt great, but i may have to try them as theyre the only ones to offer a full set and at a decent price!

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Re: Pioneer impression

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von papen wrote:I saw the link to ima's set on AHF although they said the material was pretty thin and the service wasnt great, but i may have to try them as theyre the only ones to offer a full set and at a decent price!

vp
I must admit, the price seems incredibly cheap but at least it will start you off. The weave and colour also appears more realistic compared to SOF's.
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Re: Pioneer impression

Post by von papen »

Well i got the book 'Pioniere der waffen SS im bild', took ages to arrive from america!

Strange thing is i cant see anyone with the trade patch, alot of the combat pics arent clear enough to get a good look and the ones that are dont have em. Was it only certain sections who had them, strangely enough ive seen alot of those early war tabs in the pics (peacetime/1939/1940 pics of course)

vp
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