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M3a4 Handcart Farm find in Germany


nebelwerfer
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nebelwerfer

Hi,

I´m from Germany and want to show you what was left here in Germany from WW2!
This cart was found in the western Eifel near the city of Prüm near the Belgian Luxembourg German border. The Finder tells me, that it was left there from German Troops (In this Area the 5th German Fallschirmjäger Division, 5th Paratrooper Division was active.)

The US Troops in this area was the 4th Infantry Division (IVY). If it is true, that the cart was lost by the Paratroopers, It could be captured from the 28th Infantry or even the 101st Airborne near Bastogne.

But most probably it was lost by Soldiers of the IVY Division, I think - but never will know this ...

The guy who sold it, don´t know what it was, he thougt it was a German Handcart.

The Dataplate is missing, but a number is stamped there. It isn´t easy to read it, but something like 10105 . But the number is normaly to high for this kind of cart without top box reinforcement and Bracket holes?! Maybe the specialists can help? With some phantasy it could read RIA 6105. That would be more fitting.

But there are other things that are special on this cart. The Lunette was made bigger and the pole was bend and made a little bit longer. First I thougt this was made by the Farmer...

While taking it apart, I was looking to the reinforcement Plate over the bended area, an I saw a countersunk hole. This kind of holes are very special and I tried to put a Armor Bolt from a Halftrack into it, it fits perfect! So maybe this piece of Metal (its realy thick) could be a part of a backarmor from a Halftrack! So I was thinking, the bigger Lunette, the bend pole (for more high while towing) and the Halftrack Parts, could it be possible, that this is theater made for pullig this cart behind a Truck or a Halftrack? First I was thinking about cutting the bed piece out and make it to the original condition, but in the moment I´m not shure to do so.

Sorry for the little difficult english, its not my home talk!

Gruß christian

 

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Johan Willaert

Great find...

 

Seems like an early M3A4 without reinforcing rib at the top of the box, which were (all?) made by the Rock Island Arsenal (RIA).

This is the third RIA I have seen that has lost its dataplate and where the number RIAxxxxx is stamped directly into the box.

 

No way to know when exactly it was altered and by whom...

 

If you want to read more about these please check out my website here:

http://www.theliberator.be/handcart.htm

 

 

Or Craig Johnson's site here:

http://www.handcartz.com/

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nebelwerfer

thank you fot your reply,

I searched google when I get the cart last week, and there I found your and craigs page very fast.

Much knoledge for a small cart!

hope to get some time to work on it.

 

gruß christian

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craig johnson

Cool find.

 

6395 is the earliest number on my serial list and 10512 is the highest of the R.I.A. Carts without the strap and holes on the top of the body. As far as I can tell they made around 4500 M3A4's without holes., There are only 11 on my list. Serial number 6200 is an aluminum Cart so your number would be higher than this.

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nebelwerfer

hallo,

its mostly rusted away, but I will look again with better light next week.

Your serial number list great, keep it going on!

I hope to go on with the restoration, but time is limited...

 

gruß christian

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  • 2 months later...
nebelwerfer

Hi,

 

 

get some time to work on the Cart. I decidet to let it in its configuration, as I get it. Thats its history I think.

After sandblasting, the Serial Number was visible:

 

10125

 

I have to clean up the nuts, bolts and the other small thing now. The wheels were very bad, so this is work for the winter, but I found an old mower in my cellar, and the wheels fit the cart! Better than no wheels at all.

 

Hope you like it.

 

Gruß christian

 

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  • 6 months later...
  • 1 year later...
nebelwerfer

Today a Friend gave me this stencils, original US Army.

So I tried them on the Handcart.

I used a brush and white color, its not perfect, but this was the first try, so it looks like fieldmade...

Next time I will use spray paint.

It is now Vehicle 6 in HQ Company of 3rd Bataillon in the 302nd Regiment of the 94th Infantry Divison

This unit fought here in my area and this Bataillon took the hometown of my Grandparents on

March 18 1945

 

 

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nebelwerfer

Now only the original Wheels and some brackets are missing.

I used the Handcart on the Liberator Homepage as an example for the Unitmarking. ( HQ6)

So it might be original, but I try to find a original pic from the 94th Division with a Handcart.

 

Thanks for looking

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  • 5 years later...
nebelwerfer

hi,

 

I would like to replace the bended Drawbar with a correct  straight one.

 

It would help me much,  if someone could tell me,  how long exactly it should be!?

 

thank you!!

 

christian

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Johan Willaert

Your cart still has the 'spade' near the lunette, so I assume it is still the original drawbar which has been bent.

I would suggest straightening the bar you have and maybe replacing the lunette by a correct looking part...

 

Ed Snyder in the US makes perfect lunettes... he's not online but takes orders by phone...

 

A google search Ed Snyder handcart parts should bring up his number

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nebelwerfer

Hi,

thank you for your reply.

It is original, but was cut and made a bit  longer.

I thougt, it would be better to keep the bent one, as it is for historical reasons, and use a new bar for display on the cart.

 

Gruss christian

 

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nebelwerfer

Johan 

this would be great!

Also the diameter and thickness of Material of the lunette would be perfect, maybe I can make a new one with spade.

 

For Information :  The Diameter of the drawbar is 38mm/1,5 inch 

 

Gruss christian

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