EXTREMELY Rare Whisky Hip Flask Restoration - World War II

Restoration of an extremely rare World War 2 whisky hip flask found in a barn yard in the battlefields of Bulge. This is a Memorial Day edition to honour the fallen soldiers of World War 2 ❤

About this Whisky hip flask
I have never seen something like this before. It is beyond cool. I have bought it from a family who lives near Bastogne where the actual battle of Bulge took place in 1944. I got this whisky hip flask and a lot of other really cool relics with me home this time including a Medic bag and a Medic helmet (unfortunately the family has already had the helmet restored a few years back). This family has been living in Bastogne for many generations, and I was told that after the battles there was military “garbage” (war relics) left all over the place. You can still go to France, Poland, Germany, Russia, Belgium – yep most of Europe and do some awesome World War 1 and World War 2 founds. There were millions of military items left behind.

The restoration process
I know this is a special one, so I saved it for the US Memorial Day 2021. It was with a mix of respect and fear of not being able to restore this beautiful and rare whisky hip flask that I started this restoration. First, I Cleaned this relic with alcohol and soap and removed the WW2 Combat Medicine badge with blow torch. I was very careful not to melt the pewter and destroy the whisky flask. I soaked the badge in Russian vodka “Rocket fuel”.
I fixed and repaired a big dent in the bottom of the hip flask. For that I used heat and gentle hammer strokes.

I prepared the hip flask for casting by grinding and cleaning the big hole there was in this hip flask and fill it with casting sand. I filled the hole in the flask with pewter and after that I hand grinded it back to as good as it gets. I did a quick polish and attached the World War 2 Combat Medicine badge again and filled the hip flask with the VAT. 69 whisky which some of the soldiers used to drink in 1944.

Thanks for watching my channel. See you soon.

Best wishes and stay safe ❤ Martin
Music: From YouTube free audio library. And from paid licence at EnvatoElements.

[rockfan]

It’s the “Combat Medical Badge.” The medic earns it while serving in combat for saving lives. The peacetime one is called the “Expert Field Medical Badge.” You have to test for it by doing a PT test, expert in mapreading and use of a compass, among other things. Not an easy badge to earn.

[goldpet]

My dad was in the Battle of the Bulge. His feet froze in the frigid Belgian winter. He suffered from that for the rest of his life. Who knows, he may have had a drink from a flask like this to deal with the pain. He didn't talk about the war. Thank you for showing such tenderness and reverence for this object.

[blazeblue]

That emblem is the staff of Hermes, Caduceus, meaning that flask was likely carried by a medical officer.

[TheParkAttendant]

My Swedish friend, where did you learn all of this. I enjoy restoration shows, but I have never seen so much talent across so wide a a range of repairs. I really enjoy watching you give some of these artifacts a new life. As well as the pieces of history, you preserve.

[marssj]

As a medic I know that emblem well. It's a combat medic badge. I imagine back in those days they used whiskey as anesthesia as there was nothing else available.

[Charlielizard]

Read your info before watching the restoration. Then looked up the logo for James Dixon & Sons. Sure enough it was a trumpet with a banner. More than likely belonged to a British field doc. Spent over 5 years in that area and was brought to tears again watching you restore the flask. You brought back tremendous memories and truly appreciate your passion and care when restoring these items. Thank you for sharing this wonderful experience with the world. Blessings to you.

[ericlemoine]

With this restoration you made a great tribute to the Medics who took care of the wounded ... they are all heroes.

[kreese]

Great tribute to our fighting heros that made this country great, awesome job

[javierquintero]

Amazing message from the back, shows how cruel and hard could be the war.

[ironjungkwonful]

I can only imagine the number of wounded soldiers that took a sip from this flask. Honestly this one gave me shivers. Excellent work!

[OrgKgTV]

" IN BATTLE THEY FALL..A SALUTE TO THEM ALL.. A DRINK WILL DO WELL..TO ESCAPE FROM THIS HELL"

[hopegorman]

I'm so glad to see someone respecting these amazing pieces of history and returning them to the condition they deserve to be in. It's like watching history come back to life. Amazing.
Thank you for your work. For those who forget history are doomed to repeat it. And thanks to you these pieces of history can be remembered properly.
On a completely different note, I found the squeaky squeaky pop of the cork being removed oddly satisfying.

[jeremycaldwell]

This video made me ridiculously happy. As the Nephew of a Vietnam Corpsman and an Army Medic vet myself this thing is absolutely beautifully redone.

[karodora]

Beautiful restoration. Thank you for this special Memorial Day tribute. My uncle, a paratrooper, was critically wounded in Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge. He survived after a lengthy convalescence and died in 1995.

[Daria.]

Спасибо, это очень интересно, красиво и с большим смыслом. Мой прадедушка погиб воюя за Россию(СССР) в этой войне и я была в том лесу, где был бой в 1986 году-вся земля была покрыта касками, гильзами, как будто всё было вчера. Спасибо, что помните о страшной войне, в которой пострадали люди во многих странах.

[robsteingruber]

From an old Soldier, "Thank You ." It isn't enough, but it is the biggest words I know to show my gratitude.

[jaeger]

I just woke up. I eat breakfast and think: "Where to start your day?" and then, you release a new restoration and I realized that the day will be great! Thank you for your hard work!

[Doncan]

That piece is priceless. Should be in a military museum.

[Gary-pogi]

The combat medics badge meant more to my dad than his bronze star.

[kansaidream]

You know things are serious when you need to use a mana AND health potion to fix things