Original German WWI Imperial German Prussian Artillery Officer Waffenrock Tunic with Trousers – V., VI., XVI., XVII. Armee-Korps Original Items

Original Items: Only One Set Available. This is a lovely M-1895 Prussian Waffenrock, featuring the beautiful Swedish Cuffs! In 1842, Preußen (Prussia) introduced a new pattern of uniform for all foot-troops consisting of a uniform called a Waffenrock to be worn with a tall leather spiked helmet called a Pickelhaube. This form of dress was considerably different from the short Kollet (a waist-length jacket with tails) worn with the high leather Tschako during the Napoleonic wars.

Dunkelblau (dark blue) Waffenrock were typically worn by Infantry, Feldartillerie (Field Artillery), Fußartillerie (Foot Artillery) Regiments, Train (Supply), Pionier (Pioneers) and most other units. Hellblau (light blue) Waffenrock were worn by the majority of Dragoner (Mounted Infantry) Regiments (except Hessen) while dark green Waffenrock were worn by Jäger (light Infantry) Battalions.

Issued Waffenrocks tend to be dark while Eigetumsstück (privately purchased) Waffenrocks are much lighter in color. Officer’s Waffenrock, when compared to an issued Waffenrock from the same unit, are considerably lighter in color as they were privately purchased. Conjointly, the lighter color was probably deemed “more fashionable” than the darker issued Waffenrocks of the men.

An AKO on 25 April 1895 announced the final refinements to the Waffenrock. The collar height on issue Waffenrock ranged from 4.5 to 5 cm, however, privately purchased Waffenrock invariably have higher collars ranging from 6 cm to 7 cm. Buttons were reduced in size from 25mm to 21mm. The rear skirt was given an actual vent on the M1895 Waffenrock, allowing the two rear skirt liner pockets to be accessed through a long vertical slit opening between the rear scallops. The color of the Waffenrock ranged from light to dark blue or green and the collar and cuffs came in a rainbow of colors as did the shoulder straps. The Waffenrock was to stay in this form until the eventual replacement by the M1907/10 Feldgrau Feldrock.

This example is a lovely Eigentumsstück (private purchase) Model 1895 Waffenrock made from a high quality Dunkelblau doeskin wool with the Swedish black collar and cuffs with Ponceaurot (poppy red) piping. The Swedish cuff has a horizontal panel around the circumference of the cuff, with two buttons. The cuff is piped in the Army Corps color. As with the other Regiments of the Army, NCOs wore silver or gilt lace around the collar and cuffs from the rank of Unteroffizier and above. Examples can be found with, or without side seams that open on the cuffs, this one opens.

The shoulder boards are unfortunately detached from the uniform, as are the buttons. They will be located on the inside left pocket of the Waffenrock. The boards have a yellow backing and 2 rank pips indicating the rank of Captain. Officers’ shoulder boards were constructed from “Russia” braid, an aluminum-thread double piping. Company-grade officers (Leutnant through Hauptmann/Rittmeister) wore epaulets constructed by wrapping two side-by-side lengths of braid around the buttonhole and back, giving the appearance of eight parallel cords; the whole was sewn to an underlay (Unterlagen) of Waffenfarbe badge-cloth.

The trousers are free of any extensive damage and even has various stamps and years present on the inside. The dates range from 1902 to 1911 with multiple inspector stamps next to them. There is also a Costumers stamp present for “Goldstein & Co” who was known to carry original items such as these trousers in stock to be rented out. Thankfully these do not appear to have been worn much after WWI and are in very good shape.

This is a fantastic uniform set and amazing condition. It would be hard to upgrade from this one! Comes more than ready for display.

Approx. Measurements:
Collar to shoulder: 10”
Shoulder to sleeve: 24”
Shoulder to shoulder: 20”
Chest width: 20”
Waist width: 20”
Hip width: 24”
Front length: 32.5″
Pants length: 39″
Pants inseam: 31″