saschaw

The names used for the orders and decorations are not the proper ones, so it's hard to get which ones are meant. #2 might be a Prussian crown order 1st class with swords - a rare, expensive and of course heavily faked medal. #3 I have no idea which Austrian order is meant as there were some orders, but none of this name. Is there pictures of his actual awards, maybe from a museum? That would be of much help. Thanks Serkan!

You're welcome! Better twice than not! :beer:

Still nice, but I think we had this before. ;o) http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/49192-beautiful-baden-gendarmerie-officers-medal-bar-1880s90s/ Without swords, it was a general merit award, given for faithful service to the state and such - with its grade depending on rank or status of the wearer.

Greats bars, and no doubts about the authenticity. I think the Austrian might be identifiable form the "foreigners" (Bavaria and Bulgaria), but I'm not into Austria... The Bavarian red cross bar is rather not identidfiable to its wearer, I fear. Still a nice one!

The Reuß cross is to officers only, the Baden medal to EMs and NCOs only. We cannot exclude there actually is such a combination, for a guy who made it to Leutnant dR within the war, but I totally agree - the bar is a recent put together in unlikely combination.

Medal bars were not actually usual until ca. mid 19th century. What you'll find earlier is - in best case - a piece of cardboard or so. Most wore just the awards on their ribons.

Same with these ones: http://www.ebay.com/itm/280795668104 http://www.ebay.com/itm/280795670073

This huge medal bar is, if my memory serves me right, also from our Vienna friend. Unfortunately I cannot find it in my files to be 100% sure. Still 98,5%, without finding it. http://www.ebay.de/itm/130620879932

I didn't see anything I did not like. But was outbid on some... :(

Probably not, as he's usually using common, cheap awards, that as singles sell hardly in Germany and Austria. Some of the less common are doubtful anyway.

This is what Christophe explained, and there's no other explanation. A private, inofficial uprade. Nice to look at and most probably a bronze, not silver grade.

Gladly! So you do agree they are/were a set? All from the chain that was worn on a bar, is indeed on the tuxedo bar. SS Maurizio & Lazzaro is having a crown on the chain, but not on the bar. That's a mistake I can imagine. All other awards - on the neck! This explains why the KO outranks the RAO: a KO3 would not, a KO2 would indeed. Now to find him... :unsure:

I hoped I could find the wearer of Claudio's bar (from #108), but had no luck so far. Maybe someone else wants to give it a try, with my additional puzzle parts from Munich's Hermann Historica's 44th auction from may 17th, 2oo3. It started at 300,- Euros, "Zuschlag" at 360,- Euro. If we assume both are legit, it's almost impossible they are not to the same wearer. So we can add a KO2(!) to our search as well als a CDIII of some grade, and a merit order from ecuador! Should help... Possibly yet "aD" and the orders for his post-military carrer...

The overall quality is very poor, I don't know these marks from good ones and so on. There's a golden rule: study originals, not the fakes. Once you know all good variations (and there are some, with an order awarded for almost 200 years!) a fake cannot fool you anymore. In case you don't know it by now: The site of Andreas, who's a member here, too, might be helpfull: www.medalnet.net PS: I sent you a PM.

Holy cow. This must be the oddest "German" medal bar I've ever seen. :o

A good one, an original cross awarded in WW1, silver gilt issue from 1917/1917, would cost around 10,000.- to 15,000 Euro today. An older, ral gold one even more. This one is typical eBay stuff. I'm not sure if a real plm ever was offered on eBay. :unsure:

A good question you raise and I'm not sure anyone has yet found a definite answer. In my humble opinion, most of them are war time. The "K." in "K.M.ST." stands for royal, so that might indeed be a hint. They're private purchase luxury crosses anyway.

Gladly, Peter. Here are some similar ones from my files. All from the very same seller:

He might be there, (too), but Paul, did you see the XX cross on 6th position? If he should not be in rank list 1914, he's in an older one.

Lovely bar! I assume the combination is unique, but I'm not sure. He should appear in Reserve or Landwehr officers chapter of the Prussian army rank list. I'd try to fnd him in 1914 volume, which is the most likely. If he isn't listed there, try an older one. He might have retired before 1914. RAO4, KO4, LD1, probably at least one of his Rote-Kreuz-Medaillen and the OV3a would be mentioned in the rank list. Other awards are later.

Indeed, the price range mentioned is almost safe - but I have even seen WW1 Iron Crosses 2nd class there, that just didn't feel right... Nor would I touch any medal bar from this source.

Well, not only because it's offered frequently by a well-known fake seller, but also as the details are to bad. It's probably cast, not die struck as they should be. The enemal work is inferior, too. They are quite well made - at least good enough to fool people. But they are neither originals nor old wearers's copies. Just fakes - meant to fool people. (referring to the 1st one in #5!)

Sorry, but I do not believe this is a genuine ribbon bar. Main reason is the former seller whose fancy ribbons bars, sold over the years, all look very similar. Conspiciouis similar. There are also some details which I honestly don't like, e.g. the bronze swords for the China KO4X on #3...

The first one shown in http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/52388-hanseatenkreuz-bremen/page__view__findpost__p__478051 is a recent fake in my opinion.

Which ones do you mean?