As a culture we probably worry too much about certain numbers. Is your 25th wedding anniversary more significant than the 24th or 26th? (The women in the office are all telling me YES!, so for the record - don't screw it up.) Is the 50th anniversary of D-Day more important than the 49th? Apparently. It is just how we tend to make note of our progress through time. We here at AGM have certainly been anticipating our 100th Catalog... and here it is at long last! This was supposed to be out in late October / early November.. but better late than never.
In celebration of this milestone, continental US orders totaling over $500 that ship via UPS Ground will ship FREE.
The majority of items in Catalog #100 came from the collection of the late Bill Wacker. Bill was a friend, a serious scholar, and a very advanced collector of US Army accoutrements. His main focus was from 1872 to 1945. Processing this collection has been a real learning experience and a privilege; there are a number of items in here that even the most serious collector may encounter only once or twice in a lifetime.
Though we are still working on photography, and probably will not be done until sometime this weekend, here are a few highlights of the upcoming Catalog, #100 - (not to scale)
As you might gather from catalog cover, Mr. Wacker was an ardent collector of US military belts. He collected as if he was a curating a major museum collection, with each belt representing a different chapter in the story of how the US Army soldier carried his ammunition and field equipment. Some are simply nice examples of fairly common belts, but quite a few are exceedingly rare items such as the 1872 Cavalry Brace System illustrated above.
There are plenty of bayonets and edged weapons on Catalog #100 as well. The image below was made without duplicating a single bayonet. It also features one of the very pleasant surprises that we discovered in this collection: a very nice M1912 Cavalry 'Ring' Cartridge Belt with Eagle Snap fittings.
Also under the "where on Earth did Bill find THAT!!?!" file; a Medical Officer's M1910 Garrison Belt with sword hanger and eagle snap medical pouches. To be honest, I had no idea that this even existed until we found it in Bill's collection, along with a photo documenting it in use.
Though Catalog #100 is very heavy on the US sections, we did not forget about our friends who collect Imperial German, Third Reich, and Other Nations militaria. Though small, the Imperial German section is particularly interesting this time, with M15 field gray uniforms, camouflage M16 helmets, and several very scarce early 19th Century orders and medals:
Another fine example of how fortunate we are to have such good friends can be found in the Commonwealth area of the Other Nations section. One of our best pals found the outstanding WWI Canadian set illustrated here, and sold it to us as it was not what he currently collects. Most of the best items that come through AGM are here because of the good will of our friends and allies. We appreciate you all more than you will ever know!
The WWII offerings on this catalog are not as numerous as the 19th Century and WWI era items, but what we do have is well-worth your attention. Catalog #100 has a number of M3 fighting knives in M6 scabbards, several good 3rd Reich daggers, and a mini-collection of British-Made US WWII field equipment including several components that I was previously unaware were also 'British Made.'
There are some nice US Civil War and earlier items on Catalog 100 as well:
Other highlights include:
- US Army Smith & Wesson Second Model Schofield Revolver
- Indian Wars M1872 Experimental Cavalry Brace Accoutrement Set
- 1814 Hesse-Kassel Order of the Iron Helm
- Model 1895 Krag Carbine
- 1920's Mills Pouch With M1921 Thompson 20-Round Stick Magazines
- Prototype First Pattern M1910 Canteen Cover with Early 'Flat Top' Canteen & Cup
- WWI US Navy Yeomanette's Uniform & Extras
- Civil War Armed Confederate Soldier Ambrotype
- WWI Visored Experimental Helmet: Pattern No. 8
- Canadian WWI Enlisted Uniform with Overcoat, Trench Cap, & Photo Group
- Cavalry M1912 Experimental Cartridge 'Ring' Belt: Eagle Snap
- Imperial German Model 1915 Field Gray 'Bluse' (two to choose from)
- War of 1898 & Early 1900's Indiana Signal Corps Officer's 'Time Capsule' Grouping
- Prototype Medical Officer's Garrison Belt: Eagle Snap Compartments and Sword Hanger
- Haitian Campaign USMC Aviator's Group: early developer of dive bombing tactics
- Indian Wars M1874 Palmer Brace Infantry Accoutrement Set
- 1900-1903 Era US Army Infantry Uniform & Accoutrements With Nutter Brace System
- Spanish American War 161st Indiana Identified Uniform Group with Campaign Hat
- Cavalry Model 1909 Mounted Cartridge Belt
- Hannover Waterloo Medal: Bremen Grenadier Battalion
- Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg 1814 Waterloo Medal
- British Infantry Officer's Sword, Pattern of 1822
- Federal Period M1795 Socket Bayonet with Shoulder Sling
- WWI Mark I 1918 Trench Knife & Scabbard: L.F.&C 1918
- Mexican Border Issue Model 1911 Wool Issue Sweater
- Mills .38 Blue Web Revolver Cartridge Belt with 1887 Eagle Plate & Saber Hangers
- German / Austrian WWI Spring Handle Trench Club
- Indian Wars M1872 Infantry Brace System Belt and Suspenders
- Civil War Unissued M1851 Enlisted Saber Belt
- M1876 First Pattern Prairie Belt
- M1904 Army Campaign Hat
- 1870 Equipment Trials Dyer 'E' Ammunition Pouch Sling & Carbine Snap Swivel
- Colt Model 1894 .38 Caliber Revolver
- WWI Army Rain Poncho
- Mills Army Model M1911 Pistol Web Holster
- M1881 Holster for Colt / Smith & Wesson Schofield Revolver (several different variants)
- Indian Wars M1880 1st Contract Mills Belt and Plate Cavalry Modified
- Civil War Commercial Chasseur Style Federal Kepi
- Mexican Border Era Cavalry Model 1910 Mounted Cartridge Belt
- Camouflage Model 1916 Helmet (several)
- WWII German Red Cross Enlisted Hewer: Top Shelf Example
- 1902 Experimental Mills Cartridge Belt
- First Pattern Model 1910 Bacon Can
- Canadian WWI First Division Painted Helmet: Rimless Brodies with First Pattern Liner
- Indian Wars M1882 Cavalry Metcalf Belt: Complete
- M1880 Woven Web .45-70 Cartridge Belt: Rare Early 1881 'H' Plate Buckle
- Prussian Spiked Helmet with 1915 Pattern Camouflage Cover
- WWII M3 Blade-Marked Trench Knife with M6 Scabbard: Aerial / Milsco
- Philippine Insurrection and Boxer Rebellion Identified 3rd Artillery Uniform Group
- WWII M3 Blade-Marked Trench Knife with M6 Scabbard: Camillus / Milsco
- Philippine Insurrection M1899 Infantry Lieutenant's Tropical Tunic and Breeches