Original Item: Only One Available. This German Military bugle is of all brass construction, with what looks to be copper, typical of German brass instruments. Showing use it bears numerous small dents with some scrapes, but is absolutely authentic. It comes complete with its original mouthpiece (removable), which is chained to the instrument. It also has a lovely leather hanger strap, which is coiled back around itself for a lovely look.

The bugle has the correctly seamed and brazed tubing used during the period, and the bell kranz / garland is in good condition, still well molded to the end of the bell. We checked and we were not able to find any maker markings on it, which is not uncommon. The attachments to the bell however are definitely something we do not usually see. There is a bronze or copper Braunschweiger Totenkopf (Brunswick Death's Head) badge over a PENINSULA banner badge attached to the bell. The badges have larger split pins attached, with the skull pin soldered on the interior.

The design of the Totenkopf is specific to those used by the Brunswick Ducal Field-Corps (Herzoglich Braunschweigisches Feldcorps) during the Napoleonic Wars. Known as the Black Brunswickers, the Black Legion, and various other names, they were very popular in Victorian England due to their Black Uniforms. The Black Brunswickers earned themselves a fearsome reputation over the following decade, taking part in several significant battles including the prelude to the Battle of Waterloo, at Quatre Bras on 16 June 1815, where the Duke lost his life. Due to financial difficulties the unit was disbanded in 1820, but Brunswick did maintain a military force afterwards as needed.

With the formation of the German empire the two regiments were renumbered as the 92nd (Brunswick) Infantry (Braunschweigisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr.92) and 17th (Brunswick) Hussars (Braunschweigisches Husaren Regiment Nr.17). These units retained the Braunschweiger Totenkopf emblem as well as the "Peninsula-Sicily-Waterloo" battle honors, so we believe this bugle is from one of these two units.

The bugle is in very good overall condition, and definitely still functional. There is however a soldered repair to the mouthpiece, which had the rim crack off at some point.

A romantic item from the terrible First World War, ready to display or even use!