H026495 COMBAT ENGINEER'S LONG WIRE CUTTERS. (Lange Drahtzange für Pionier)

BACKGROUND: Each Division in the German Army and the Waffen SS, (Armed SS), had an organic Pionier, (Combat Engineer), battalion that consisted of personnel specially trained in destroying enemy obstacles, creating forward defensive positions, bridging and assault tactics. As the spearhead troops the Engineers were issued with assorted specialized equipment including assault packs, pick axes, saws, long handle shovels, wire cutters, explosive tool kits and other construction and demolition equipment. The Combat Engineer’s equipment also included a wide variety of assorted demolition charges, anti personnel and anti vehicles mines along with the appropriate detonators, igniters and timers. The Combat Engineers were utilized two, different models of wire cutters enabling personnel to cut through barbwire entanglements. The wire cutters came in both a short and a long model and both were issue with a specific carrying case that was to be worn on the load carrying waist belt. The long wire cutters seem to have been issued on a limited basis and are not as commonly encountered as the short pattern wire cutters. Of Note: As the spearhead troops, personnel serving with an Combat Engineer unit, generally experienced higher casualties rates then standard units.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Roughly 62cm long, tooled steel and plastic impregnated wood construction wire cutters with mottled brown bakelite fittings. The wire cutters consist of dual, tubular, steel handles fitted with plastic impregnated wood grips with additional, raised, brown bakelite end pieces to prevent slippage. The handles have a large, central, hinge secured by three dome headed rivets and an additional, strength reinforcing, steel bar secured to the cutting head by two, large, dome headed rivets. The cutting blades have serrated tips and still function although they show oxidation and chipping to the blades. The blades are well marked and dated for 1937. Shows age, use and period wear, but overall nice condition.

GRADE ****                             PRICE $298.00

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