Original Item. Only One Available. We have offered a fair number of WWII Luftwaffe bandoliers, but this may be one of the scarcest bandoliers we have ever offered. This is a gorgeous Imperial German rifle bandolier used in the final months of World War I. The bandolier still has two pouches at the very end which are still sewn shut with one 5-round stripper clips of 8mm Mauser in each. The pouch on the end has the stitching coming undone, but it is still contained within.

As there are still intact cartridges in the bandolier, it is not available for export. UPS Ground Shipping only due to hazardous material requirements.

The bandolier is divided into three components, being a central section for suspending the weight of the cartridges over the man's neck; a set of five pouches each side to be draped over his chest. The lower two pouches will carry two clips of five rounds each, the upper three, single clips of five, making a total of seventy rounds capacity. There are fabric tying tapes sewn to the reverse of the second pouches up, enabling the man to secure the bandolier closer to his body, being tied over the breadbag strap that was normally worn over the neck and hooked to his conventional leather ammunition pouches that were worn either side of the belt buckle.

This example has several markings including Arb.-AusschuB / Sonneberg for the maker, and:

Patr. G. | Ne. | 19.4.18
B.D.M. | N.200.1.17 | .8b. 17H. R.

This dates the bandolier to April 19th, 1918. Contrary to popular belief , these bandoliers were not a late war item & were already in service before the outbreak of war in 1914. Actually conceived in 1908 , they were an important part of German ammunition issue & saw much use in the trenches of WW1. It is very difficult to find a late war example like this. The bandolier has some rust spotting as shown but is a fantastic late-war example.

This is the first example of an Imperial German bandolier we have ever offered, and comes ready for further research and display. Don’t miss it!

NOTE: Ships via UPS Ground D.O.T. Limited Haz Mat ONLY. Not available for Priority Mail or expedited shipment. Not Available for export or shipment to certain US States and Territories.