Need help with the Perry Nap Austrian NCOs

[ARKOUDAKI]

Calling all you Austrian Nap experts out there.

I have a question. On the Perry's Austrian NCOs there is this hanging cane device/long stick, that is held by a loop around the lower waist. In doing research I have only seen this hanging device suspended from the upper chest or being held in hand....so my Q is do the Perry's have this detail wrong or is everyone else wrong? Just asking as I am no Austrian expert...

Thanks in advance for sharing your insight.

[joroas]

Austrian NCOs had no rank markings, they had canes as a symbol of their rank. Historically, Roman Centurions carried a stick and Field Marshals still carry a baton as a sign of rank.

[emperorpenguin]

Actually Austrian NCOs did have lace to show rank, unlike the officers who wore plain coats

As for the stick, not sure I've seen one old picture which seems to show it attached to the lapels.

[huevans]

Actually Austrian NCOs did have lace to show rank, unlike the officers who wore plain coats

As for the stick, not sure I've seen one old picture which seems to show it attached to the lapels.

I believe they only had lace around the top of the shako.

[joroas]

Sergeants had a Spanish reed cane and Corporals had a hazel one.

[ARKOUDAKI]

Thanks for the comments. I have already discovered the bits about the canes and such....but the question remains where on the uniform it was attached to...upper chest or lower, towards the waist?

[joroas]

I imagine whichever was sensible, an upper button and tucked into a belt so that it didn't catch your leg when moving, kneeling, etc.

[ARKOUDAKI]

So joroas, there is no official regulations on this??? Given the nature of the Austrians of the period, I would have thought there was a definite 'right' way to do this....

[emperorpenguin]

I've got one picture in a Haythornthwaite book of an artilleryman with the stick tucked into his boot

I'd say "does it really matter?"