Fam. Wouters
Rare view of a Bavarian artilleryman armed with a Dutch Beaumont-Vitali rifle
Dated 16.4.1916 and sent from Antwerp. The picture was made in a studio on the Brederodestraat in the south of the center of Antwerp. Number 102 is a little less than 200 m from where I live.
Now, on the the extremely interesting picture. On scene, a Landsturm-kanonier of the 1. Bayerische Landsturm Batterie. Bavarians did not use the Kügelhelm as other artillery-regiments did. The Bavarian Wappen is clearly visible. The rampart lion on the buttons of his tunic are also nicely visible -the photographer did a good job. On to another typical Bavarian Artilery feature: the AS92. This short sword was made using blades from Werder bayonets M69 and these were fitted with lion-headed hilts.
Now, all that's left to draw the attention to is the rifle. It is immediately clear that this is not German, but what is it... It took me a while to find out, but thanks go out to George Wylie (and Dieter Störz of the B.A.M.) for the ID on this gun.
It is cerainly based on a Dutch M1871/88 Beaumont-Vitali Type 1. Before WWI, these were sold as surplus to dealers in Antwerp and Liege, which explains how they got into German hands. The Museum in Delft and the Bayerische Armeemuseum have an example of this rifle marked with an Imperial German eagle and Deutsches Reich. This weapon on scene here is however an unrecorded version, as it has been say converted into a carbine version: it appears to be shortened and features a sling on the side rather than at the bottom. It was probably altered by the Belgian dealers.
There was another picture for sale a few days ago, also made in Antwerp, showing a group of Bavarians and one had this rifle as well. Sadly I was outbid.
Rare view of a Bavarian artilleryman armed with a Dutch Beaumont-Vitali rifle
Dated 16.4.1916 and sent from Antwerp. The picture was made in a studio on the Brederodestraat in the south of the center of Antwerp. Number 102 is a little less than 200 m from where I live.
Now, on the the extremely interesting picture. On scene, a Landsturm-kanonier of the 1. Bayerische Landsturm Batterie. Bavarians did not use the Kügelhelm as other artillery-regiments did. The Bavarian Wappen is clearly visible. The rampart lion on the buttons of his tunic are also nicely visible -the photographer did a good job. On to another typical Bavarian Artilery feature: the AS92. This short sword was made using blades from Werder bayonets M69 and these were fitted with lion-headed hilts.
Now, all that's left to draw the attention to is the rifle. It is immediately clear that this is not German, but what is it... It took me a while to find out, but thanks go out to George Wylie (and Dieter Störz of the B.A.M.) for the ID on this gun.
It is cerainly based on a Dutch M1871/88 Beaumont-Vitali Type 1. Before WWI, these were sold as surplus to dealers in Antwerp and Liege, which explains how they got into German hands. The Museum in Delft and the Bayerische Armeemuseum have an example of this rifle marked with an Imperial German eagle and Deutsches Reich. This weapon on scene here is however an unrecorded version, as it has been say converted into a carbine version: it appears to be shortened and features a sling on the side rather than at the bottom. It was probably altered by the Belgian dealers.
There was another picture for sale a few days ago, also made in Antwerp, showing a group of Bavarians and one had this rifle as well. Sadly I was outbid.