Lets see if we can clarify this a bit for you Dick...
M1895 Dunkelblau Waffenrock Achselklappe (die) (plural - Achselklappen) - Enlisted mans shoulder straps.
First off, it is important to remember that Dunkelblau Waffenrocks are not dress uniforms, they were worn in the field until the introduction of the Feldgrau Feldrock in 1907/10.
M1895 Dunkelblau Waffenrock straps are in the Armee-Korps (Army Corps) color and are (in the order of seniority) white, red, yellow, or blue. These colors repeat themselves in this order. When the XXI Amree-Korps was raised in 1912, they adopted green straps; no other Korps has this color, although some units (like IR114) were green. Note that the strap is sewn into the seam. Straps were backed in dark blue for the Waffenrock, light grey for the M1907 greatcoat.
For cyphered Regiments (from left to right in the photo below), issue examples (for cyphers only) were made of felt and hand-sewn, or chain-stitched. Private purchase examples are much higher quality and are often hand embroidered over a paper template. Only Mecklenburg issued shoulder straps with red printed numbers and cyphers (far right)
There was a unique way that at least one manufacturer made straps only for Württemberg units. They are felt, but padded.
The list below indicates the primary Armee-Korps piping colors which is reflected by the strap color. For officer boards, the underlay matched the colors of the Mannschaften (Other Ranks) shoulder straps. This applies only to Infantry and Artillery straps. Other arms such as cavalry, Jäger etc used piping not in alliance with Armee Korps.
- White: I, II, IX, X, XII, & I Bavarian
- Red: III, IV XI, XIII XV, XIX, & II Bavarian
- Yellow: V, VI, XVI, XVIII, & III Bavarian
- Blue: VII, VIII, XVIII, XX
- Green: XXI
Piping exceptions due to seniority and Regimental distinctions:
White: 1st and 5th Garde Regt zu Füß, 1st and 5th Guard Grenadiers, Infanterie Regiments 109, 110, 116
Red: 2nd Foot Garde Regt zu Füß, 2nd Guard Grenadiers, 11 Battalion 89th Grenadiers, Infanterie Regiments 111, 115, 168, 169, 171 and 172.
Yellow: 3rd Garde Regt zu Füß, 3rd Guard Grenadiers, Guard Füsiliers, Infanterie Regiments 112, 118 and 142.
Blue: 4th Garde Regt zu Füß, 4th Guard Grenadiers, Infanterie Regiments 40, 113, 145 and 170.
Green: 114th Reqt.
After the war started, there was no need for the colored Dunkelblau, and it was made obsolete in 1915. So there were a LOT of pre war straps in storage, that have survived, but were never issued and have no sewing marks or button holes. I have dozens and dozens with no button holes.
Another factor, is that the Dunkelblau straps were sewn into the shoulder seam, so they could not come off. So many manufacturers did not make a buttonholes, as really it served no purpose. A small slit was made in the strap and the button loop slid through and sewn to the shoulder. I have several Waffenrocks like this.
Occasionally straps will be found with a faded diamond shape at the bottom. That indicates that the strap once part of one of the famous "strap blankets", where hundreds of original straps, many never issued (hence the lack of a button hole) were sewn to many other straps, and the faded mark at the bottom is from the strap that was below it. I have about 20 or so like this. The only blanket that survives that I know of, is in Rastatt. I have seen it several times. To a strap collector like myself, I suppose it is like a mid-western American housewife going to Graceland.
