Genuine World War 1 WW1 Military Issue Soldiers Rosa (02/09/2011)...

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Genuine World War 1 WW1 Military Issue Soldiers Rosary

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Genuine World War 1 WW1 Military Issue Soldiers Rosary

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Sold Date: 02/09/2011
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Fraternal, Political, Organizations

This is a GenuineWorld War 1, Military Issue, Soldier’s Rosary.

These rosaries are almost impossible to find any more. I think the reason for that is that they end up in museums or private collections and are more or less permanently removed from the market.

These rosaries were WW I “ USA Military issue" and most are silver washed brass (some silver washed tin). Sterling silver ones were only issued to Chaplains (who usually ended up giving them away to enlisted personnel who were in a hospital or wounded). The Chaplin rosaries ALL have sterling marked on the Crucifix and Center medal.

Not all of these rosaries had the same Crucifixes (but they were all simple flat Crucifixes).

Not all the center medals have the same front nor were they the exact same shape (probably due to different suppliers) but they;

(1) ALL have Christ carrying the Cross, on the back of the center medal. This symbolized the stress and burdens of what our soldiers carried (Our Freedom).

(2) ALL the rosaries have the same type of beads and chain (please look closely at the pictures of the beads and chain. Some people call them “Lamp pull chains” and they are the same kind of construction.)

(3) ALL the rosaries are between 16-17 inches depending on the Crucifix that was used.

NOTICE:
I’ve looked thoroughly on Ebay and at any given time there are about 2-3 dozen rosaries listed as “Military”, “Soldiers”, “WW I” or “WW II” rosaries (I suspect that it’s because Military Rosaries generally bring higher prices). These rosaries may be some other country’s soldier’s rosary but only 2 or 3 are actually USA WW I Military Issued Soldiers and Sailors Rosaries and NONE are Chaplin rosaries. So be careful and look closely at the pictures.

They Must have 1 , 2 and 3 listed above to be the USA Military Issue. If they are missing any one of these requirements . . . . .they ARE NOT Military issued rosaries.

Originally, these rosaries were " blued " or coated (iodized) a dull black (even the sterling ones), so they wouldn't shine or reflect light (called “Blacken”). It is almost impossible to find one with the blacken coloring still on it (finding even a small amount of blacken is rare). The rosary was constructed strong enough to endure the daily activities of a soldier in combat.

Some of these rosaries were issued in the very beginning of the Second World War, but they were warehoused "un-issued leftovers" from the First World War and all were made around 1916. There were some stainless “prototype rosaries” produced just prior to WW II but not many at all (maybe only a few hundred and I don't believe that any were issued) as the Military decided (probably due to protest about separation of Church and State) to discontinue the rosary issue all together. Some of the stainless rosaries did end up in use, through Army/Navy Surplus Sales after the War.

Although these rosaries are no longer made or issued, the same type of construction is still used today in the production of the chains issued by the Military to hold a soldier’s dog-tags.

When the Military quit this issue, the Catholic Churches and Church Groups and Organizations began handing rosaries out (all different styles). By the middle of 1942 there was no longer any rosary that could be referred too as “a Military or Soldiers Rosary” that the Military Issued. There was however a non-issued rosary made during the Viet Nam War, when an enterprising Rosary Company made some Olive Drab & Camo Rosaries designed for soldiers. This design wasn’t popular and it didn’t last very long.

For much more information on Military Issued Rosaries, please open this link to my “ me ” page on Ebay .

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This rosary measures 16-1/4 inches long, including the 1-5/8 inch Crucifix. The center medal is the Virgin Mary and the reverse has Jesus carrying His Cross. The Center medal and Crucif...