Short handled wire cutters with pouch – Stecker, Freiberg 1939

The German Pioniertruppen or Pioneer troops where equipped to accomplish many different tasks. Where it laying mines, building (or demolishing) bridges, removing obstacles or constructing earth re-inforcments; the Pioneer troops carried all sorts of necessary equipment. They had a variety of different tools such as long spades, saws, explosives, detonators, and wire cutters.

The Drahtschere or wire cutters came in two variants. A short handled type and a long handled type. The short one was merely designed for the Gruppenführer or NCO and the long one was designed for Pioneer use. Both came with a specialized carrying case. The short wire cutters came in a case made out of leather or Presstoff, and the long handled wire cutters came in a canvas pouch  with leather loops and a leather or Presstoff reinforcement at the bottom. The handles of both the short and long wire cutters are insulated with pressed paper with bakelite end caps.

Type of tool: Drahtschere – Short handled wire cutters
Markings: Stecker, Freiberg 1939, WaA 142
Maker: Stecker, Freiberg
Year: 1939
Materials: Blackened leather pouch.
Notes: –