Stogieman

No, the details may be the close, but the clarity and quality are not.

At first glance, you see what looks like a typical badge. But the hallmark (name, 800, moon) are not what they should be. I can show you a montage of about a dozen different examples, which represents a sample of hundreds... all identical. None look like this. The detail of every photo does not look consistent with known originals. Now, this is based strictly on the photos shown. IMO, if you want to sell a 1.4K badge for under market.... you better work real hard on proving it's legit.... especially in this age of copies everywhere. These photos may just be that. Crappy photos. Or, they might be good photos of a crappy badge....

Hallo Bernd, Vielen Dank! Yes, the construction is the typical crude (period) NCO Bar. Certainly not of the quality of an Officer's Bar. But the combination of MEZ2/Baden Merit Medal for China was just too rare to bypass. I knew less than a dozen possible, but did not think only 7!! Many thanks! Rick

I'm not so sure of this one...

Thanks!!

I'd be interested in knowing if there is continued pressure from "authorities" regarding "rightful ownership" issues. Anybody have an update?

490- Euro and climbing!

I have seen a multitude of similar conversions over the years and have yet to see one that really made me think "fake". This seems to be a somewhat neglected copy venue (at the moment at least...). My favorites are the 2. klasse kreuz converted in the field to a pin-back 1. klasse. the crudity of the workmanship screams "at the front". I did have a rather outrageously well done 1870 EK2 converted by a jeweler to a pin-back once upon a time. I'll try and dig out images tonight. It was pretty special.

A little closer:

Reverse:

Front, typical plastic issue case. Era unknown.

Distinci?n "Manual Fajardo" For 25 Years Excellence in Medicine.

Given the blanks, I'm thinking officer. MVO4wX, BZL2wX. Jubilee, but no LS. Possible?

Note the consistency of the pin/hinge/catch with the more common variant.

F?r heldenm?tige Tat. Rare variation. Detlev Niemann had two last week. There's a third on eBay in Germany right now. Someone must have found a small stash!

Now, go and seek this box:

The Bar in question. Reverse of the Baden Merit Medal is "F?r Verdienst"

Hallo Bernd, Vielen Dank! I have an NCO bar as follows: 1914 EK2 Militar-Ehrenzeichen, 2. Klasse Baden Silver Merit Medal (Type 1) (F?r Verdeinst) on Militar Karl Friedrich Ribbon China Service Medal, Combattant Prussian Long Service Cross, 15 Years, NCO/Enlisted Danke!

Well, I have one, image to follow this evening...

I saw this one pop-up in Germany. IMO, directly because of the price achieved on the first one. I understand the rarity of some of these individual items. As mounted groups, they are exceptionally scarce as most were banned in 1934/35. Prices have climbed on these (like everything else) these past couple of years, but again (IMO) way more than they should.

No, this is the right place and it looks very much like a cast fake to me!

Alternately, anyone with any idea as to what Baden Natives served?

Nice NCO Bar.

Anybody have any lists/data on awards of the Baden Silver Merit Medal of the MKF Band during China campaigns? Thanks, Rick

Anybody have the order statutes for this one??