1870-1871 medal and Centenary medal bar

[Richarddwh]

I recently bought this and it was sold as a cavalry medal bar, evidenced by the fixings on the reverse. But I can't picture a Franco-Prussian war veteran wearing this on a steel breastplate. It also has a raised lip to the edges of the obverse. Any opinions would be appreciated.

Edited August 5, 2007 by Richarddwh

[Kev in Deva]

Hallo Richarddwh

I dont know about the Cavalry connection but I have a similar bar with raised edge lip in my collection.

Front.

Kevin in Deva.

[Kev in Deva]

Rear.

As can be seen there are two large inverted hooks to hang the bar to the Uniform.

I believe yours to be a genuine piece.

Kevin in Deva

[Richarddwh]

Hi Kev,

Nice bar, that is exactly the same set up with the raised lip and the same atachment hooks on the reverse. I am curious about how these bar would have been worn. I presume vets would also wear these on civilian clothes.

[HeikoGrusdat]

as far as I know this type of bars were for the K?rass, some kind of armored clothing for the cavalary, I know many of these bars without needle system but with two hooks for putting them on the K?rass...

[Kev in Deva]

Hallo Heiko,

yes, the K?rass is a steel breast-plate favoured by some cavalry units,

they must have had brackets for fixing the medal bar too.

But I cannot recal seeing any pictures with medals or without medals being worn.

I do not know if any of the Bavarian Cavalry were with K?rass as part of their uniform.

Hopefully any members with pictures of the K?rass in wear migh post some pictures??

Kevin in Deva.