This little article will concern a recent acquisition of ours, a common soldiers Kochgeschirr, or cook-pot.
The physical description for the left hand example is as follows; 210mm in height, 165mm in width and 110mm back to front. It has a removable top which is 55mm deep, with a riveted steel standing loop on one side. The pot, or body, is 200mm in height with a wire bale handle and a riveted metal loop on the inside of the opening. An identical steel riveted standing loop is attached to the pot’s front. At present the original tinned steel finish has a post production old glossy black painted exterior. The similar vintage cook pot on the right is also of tinned steel but without markings. It stands considerably shorter than the example we are discussing and was purchased from EBAY.DE. I have no idea what model or nationality it represents.
Visible on the front of the pot with the top removed are the following unit markings; 106 I.R. (7th Royal Saxon Infantry Regiment King George Nr.106) And below, 48.II.L. (I believe a Landwehr unit) Below those markings, and visible when the top is in position is 106 R. 4. 82. II. On the front of the top can be seen above the standing loop 106 R. 1.II and below the standing loop 48.II.L.
For identification I turned to these two sources, Pietsch Volume I, and The German Army 1871-1914 Volumes I & II by Herr & Nguyen. On page 109 Pietsch illustrates in figure 3 a similar pot attached to the outer flap of the tornister (pattern 1847, 1855 & 1859), and in figure 5 a pot attached to the top of the tornister, pattern 1867. However, the standing loops on our cook-pot are not designed to be used with either of these Prussian knapsack systems.
Fortunately in our small, but ever growing photographic library are these two period images of mid 19th century Saxon soldiers. The group image I would place around 1880, the men are armed with the 1871 pattern rifle and seated at center is their NCO, a 1870-71 War veteran and decorated with the Iron Cross 2nd Class. Visible below the two pyramids of stacked rifles are fur covered tornisters with messkits strapped in place. Under magnification, standing loops on both the body and top can be seen. Our final period photograph is this very clear CDV image of a Saxon Infantryman armed with the M1862 Needle Gun. At the top of his left shoulder can be seen his cook pot strapped in place with a neatly done French Roll taking up the excess strap leather. A metal standing loop can be clearly seen on the removable top with the strap passing through it. Sadly the corresponding loop on the body is not visible.
At the time of my purchase of this venerable old pot, these two extra bits of German mess-gear were inside, a happy bonus indeed. The small tinned steel cup or beaker with folding handles is identified as a Feldbecher M1893, Pietsch page 109 and GA 1871-1914 page 144 (although the latter book illustrates an aluminum example). Also this possible 1867 beaker, which is illustrated in GA 1871-1914 page 143.
I would very much like to know more information regarding this Saxon kochgeschirr, when it was first adopted and when it was replaced. Pickelhaube Pals how about it, anyone know, I sure don‘t.
Cheers
Larmo
The physical description for the left hand example is as follows; 210mm in height, 165mm in width and 110mm back to front. It has a removable top which is 55mm deep, with a riveted steel standing loop on one side. The pot, or body, is 200mm in height with a wire bale handle and a riveted metal loop on the inside of the opening. An identical steel riveted standing loop is attached to the pot’s front. At present the original tinned steel finish has a post production old glossy black painted exterior. The similar vintage cook pot on the right is also of tinned steel but without markings. It stands considerably shorter than the example we are discussing and was purchased from EBAY.DE. I have no idea what model or nationality it represents.
Visible on the front of the pot with the top removed are the following unit markings; 106 I.R. (7th Royal Saxon Infantry Regiment King George Nr.106) And below, 48.II.L. (I believe a Landwehr unit) Below those markings, and visible when the top is in position is 106 R. 4. 82. II. On the front of the top can be seen above the standing loop 106 R. 1.II and below the standing loop 48.II.L.
For identification I turned to these two sources, Pietsch Volume I, and The German Army 1871-1914 Volumes I & II by Herr & Nguyen. On page 109 Pietsch illustrates in figure 3 a similar pot attached to the outer flap of the tornister (pattern 1847, 1855 & 1859), and in figure 5 a pot attached to the top of the tornister, pattern 1867. However, the standing loops on our cook-pot are not designed to be used with either of these Prussian knapsack systems.
Fortunately in our small, but ever growing photographic library are these two period images of mid 19th century Saxon soldiers. The group image I would place around 1880, the men are armed with the 1871 pattern rifle and seated at center is their NCO, a 1870-71 War veteran and decorated with the Iron Cross 2nd Class. Visible below the two pyramids of stacked rifles are fur covered tornisters with messkits strapped in place. Under magnification, standing loops on both the body and top can be seen. Our final period photograph is this very clear CDV image of a Saxon Infantryman armed with the M1862 Needle Gun. At the top of his left shoulder can be seen his cook pot strapped in place with a neatly done French Roll taking up the excess strap leather. A metal standing loop can be clearly seen on the removable top with the strap passing through it. Sadly the corresponding loop on the body is not visible.
At the time of my purchase of this venerable old pot, these two extra bits of German mess-gear were inside, a happy bonus indeed. The small tinned steel cup or beaker with folding handles is identified as a Feldbecher M1893, Pietsch page 109 and GA 1871-1914 page 144 (although the latter book illustrates an aluminum example). Also this possible 1867 beaker, which is illustrated in GA 1871-1914 page 143.
I would very much like to know more information regarding this Saxon kochgeschirr, when it was first adopted and when it was replaced. Pickelhaube Pals how about it, anyone know, I sure don‘t.
Cheers
Larmo
. I had thought that my cup might have been an earlier style due to its steel rather than aluminum construction, glad to know the difference. 
