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I suppose it is only fitting, given that my first two blogs here were ersatz blogs to fill in for, that I should from time to time focus on obscure ersatz items…. And that is a rich subject indeed!

I am sure that I will revisit this subject many times to show the effects of the early war lack of cured leather. There are ersatz pickelhaube made of felt, I have a few, bayonet frogs with textile hangers instead of leather, steel plate ammunition pouches and much more, so there is a lot to draw on from those early days. And, why do I say early days?

Too often I see German and Austro-Hungarian ersatz items described as “last ditch” production. That is totally and utterly wrong! The reason behind that is that collectors of WWII see German and Japanese 1945 production that really was “last ditch”. It was so, all the standards went out the window with the lack of time and resources: “Does it go boom? Then make it!”, “Is it pointy enough? Then make it!” Not so in WWI.

The thing is: when the Schlieffen plan, or rather the modified and somewhat improvised version of the plan, failed, and the fronts ground to a halt, it became apparent that more men and equipment than planned for would be needed. And, so, ersatz production started. It was not last ditch, it was at the very start of the war. Production of ersatz felt helmets and the first types of ersatz bayonets started. Lacking wool cloth, uniform trousers were made from civilian corduroy and so on. This started in 1914, so very far from last ditch.

One thing that there was a deficit of was cured leather. It takes time to cure leather, so there was not enough for pickelhaube or rifle slings, bayonet frogs, you name it. A lot was made of textiles, and in the case of pickelhaube there was felt. In time production caught up with the need, but it took time to scale up production…

In the meantime, what could be used was used. As easily visible here. One of my Gewehr 98 has a sling that is a repurposed Infanteriegewehr 1871 sling. So, this model 1898 Mauser has a sling in the proper configuration, but with a row of holes in it that does not at all make sense as the Gew98 sling has a sliding buckle and does not need holes in the leather. Comparing it to my original I.G.71/84 sling it is clear that my Gew98 sling is made from one of these. It has been shortened, had the ends resewn, been cut a bit less wide, new hardware fitted, and voila! A Gew98 sling made from an obsolete I.G.1871 sling.

These early war modifications are rare. Most will have been used up or destroyed during the war. The remaining ones will have been used up during the interwar years and WWII, so for this one to have survived is a wonder. It is not the only one, but very few remain. A testament to the time when all that could be used was put to use.

So here are shown, my I.G.71/84 with original sling. My Gew98 with modified 1871 sling and a Gew98 with standard sling.

Well Joe, I promised you obscure objects. Still keeping that promise