Austrian WW1 Hand-held Barb-Wire Cutters, with German Army WW2 Waffen-ampt Stamp. These are formed Steel Sheet stock with forged cutter blades. 8” long x 4 5/8” wide x 5/8” thick. Stamped maker mark, “VOGEL&NOOT WARTBERG” in two lines, and with a Waffen-ampt mark. The reverse side is stamped “PATENT”. It has a 13 inch leather wrist strap attached. Army Pioneer (Engineer) units lead advances to clear the way forward of barb-wire and other obstacles. They were the forward combat troops. Research revealed this pair of hand-held cutters was produced by an Austrian company, Vogel & Noot in Wartberg, Austria during World War One, and was used by the Austro-Hungarian Army in that war. Vogel & Noot is still in business today, they make agricultural equipment. This example has the German Army Eagle “Waffen-ampt” acceptance mark next to the maker’s mark. This marking indicates it’s use in World War Two. The photo of WW1 Austro-Hungarian Troops advancing, shows the soldier in the foreground, using the hook (the ‘Fangarm’ in the previous image) on the wire cutters to grab the barbed wire strands before cutting. This example is in very good condition. The blades are full with no nicks. The handle with the wrist strap has rust pitting on the two inches from it’s end. They have strong spring action. The leather wrist strap is supple and complete. Because the inspector marking this pair of cutters for military service was heavy handed, the “waffen-ampt” stamp is a heavy strike, but is easily identified as the German Army Acceptance mark. Equipment used in front-line combat has great historical significance. Here is a set of wire-cutters that were made and used in both wars; first by the Central Powers and later by the German Reich. Price: $165.00 (ref. B-935)