Rare WW-1 German sniper's mask

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Rare WW-1 German sniper's mask:
$15000.00

"Anoriginal German “Sappenpanzer Gesichtsmaske” or “Elephant Plate” (Schutzchild) armoredfaceplate as issued to snipers and machine-gunners in static positions on theWestern Front, by far the rarest of all pieces of German trench-amour. A veryheavy item made of Krupp hardened steel and strapped to the head by a cage. Itwas developed in response to the high number of facial-injuries suffered bysnipers and machine-gunners in the trenches during the First World War but onlyabout 1500 were manufactured in 1915. Due to its weight, it could only be usedby personnel in fixed positions but would protect the face and head fromrifle-rounds and shrapnel shards at all but point-blank range. This one waspurchased in Ostend, Belgium which is near Flanders Field in 1995. It weights 6.14.2 lbs. or 3.120K. and it is the quintessential collector's item from WW-1 as only a few are known to exist today and are in museums in Germany and England. This mask shows that its original owner attempted to enlarge the eye hole in the RH side of the mask but due to the hardened Krupp Steel it appears he was not very successful. This personalizes the mask making it more desirable. There are some copies out there, but this one is not. Most of these masks were left to rust in the fields and the few remaining are aggressively collected by WW-1 enthusiasts.