Swords: Gold Lippe-Detmold

This unusual ribbon-- with gilt metallic threads woven into the yellow edge stripes-- was used on a variety of awards in both Lippe-Detmold and Schaumburg-Lippe.

The only awards which could be worn with swords on this ribbon, however, were wartime classes of their joint house order--the Honor Cross. This included gold and silver Merit Cross grades.

However, for the period 1914-1918, the ONLY awards which will be found (if you are very, very VERY lucky ) are the Orders grades from Lippe-Detmold. Classes 4b, 4a, and 3 found on ribbon bars all had gold swords, so it will take other clues to guess the rank level of a recipient from this ribbon with swords.

Here again are large, squared, thin bladed wartime swords.

Courtesy of Deruelle.