Grade 9 Shooting Lanyard

Product Description: This Grade 9 Shooting Lanyard is an outstanding example of a scarce higher level award, for a distinguished marksman. The second pattern shield on this one is a stunner, retaining virtually all of the original, high quality gold finish, with attractive bronze tones, and all of the original detail. There is no sign that the shield has ever been removed from the lanyard. The braided aluminum wire lanyard is fresh and near perfect, with no evident wear and only the slightest trace of age toning. Both ends retain the original loops for affixing this to a tunic, and the round knots on the lanyard are made of gold wire, as is correct for an award of this grade. On the reverse, this lanyard retains its original field gray wool backing behind the shield, as well as the white rayon backing for the cord itself; both are neatly hand sewn in place, as is typical for these. These higher level marksmanship awards are not easy to find and may be underappreciated in relation to their rarity. This Grade 9 Shooting Lanyard is in incredible, near mint condition, and would be very hard to upgrade.

Historical Description: Marksmanship was a highly valued skill in the militaristic culture of the Third Reich. For soldiers, of course, this skill was taught and trained, and soldiers were expected to achieve marksmanship proficiency. Members of paramilitary organizations such as the Hitler Youth also trained with the use of weapons, and of course there were civilian shooting clubs that held events and competitions as well. There was a myriad of different kinds of marksmanship awards that were used to recognize this skill. In the SS, and early in the German Wehrmacht, sleeve insignia was used in different patterns to display different levels of rifle qualification. Later, the Heer and Luftwaffe used special lanyards for this purpose. Heer and Luftwaffe lanyards used distinctive emblem patterns, as did the Panzer branch of the Heer. The lanyards were produced in many different grades for which a soldier could qualify and were not worn on the field uniform. Because of this, issue of these lanyards was discontinued around the start of WWII. Civilian and paramilitary groups had their own wide array of different marksmanship awards, ranging from pins and badges to non-portable medals and award plaques.

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