Stogieman

Remember this fellow?

OK Jody, I'll bite... why a U-Boot man?

Hi Paul, I think the bar might be made-up. The construction, the precedence and the unequal wear of the ribbons suggests this to me. Note the bright color of everything except the Ludwig Cross. The upward slope to the ends, the backing material, the oddly extended bar all give me pause. By themselves, I wouldn't worry... but the combination of so many odd elements in one bar just strikes me as strange.

I would agree, I don't like that pin and catch at all.

Carnival piece, not military or civil..

Try contacting Steve Previterra directly. I know many of his pieces recently went to market. If he doesn't have one, he might know someone who does...

The 1914/7 bar is about the hardest one to find.

And the bar as a whole. Chris I think these were clearly very expensive, unapproved and pure vanity items. Why would be anybody's guess, but this fellow wasn't a prince, or anyone special. Just a lowly EM and he bought one.

Onyx & Silver EK2 in Prinzen=Gr?sse

Yep, looks like the same piece. Asterik is the same. But my disc/knob and cross are marked silber. Just put it on the sales forum as it's not my area. Thanks Micha!

Nice to see a close-up! Merci!

Can anyone identify a German maker that used a six-pointed star, or asterik to mark EK1's? The mark appears to be identical to the one we see consistently used by Austrian jewelers to denote a base-metal product.

I think the envelope is after-market... The Lippe KVK was issued in a paper, titled packet.

I would agree with Yankee... There were awards of the MVO/MVK without swords 1914-18

Hey Mike! That first cross is a Prinzen!! WOW!

No, I don't believe it is. Patina, contact marks on the cross, etc. all appear to denote long-term association. I'll have good scans on Thursday. I do not have an appropriate scanner... just ask the other, other Rick....

I know we usually associate the mark "SILBER" on an EK1 with Bavarian makers... but here's a twist. I have a screw-back EK1, screw disc and cross both marked Silber. But the "keeper" disc bears an asterik, that I would normally associate with Austria!! This mark was normally used on Austrian pieces to signify a base metal, as opposed to the usual silver, or other precious metal. Clearly the set has been together for forever.... Any thoughts? Thanks!

Details:

Not really Lippe-Detmold... but close and extremely rare!

I will say this... If I was actively collecting Imperial Aviation still, I would have snatched the pair. You are right, the Prinzen variation is quite rare. After searching my archive photos, it's not an example I've recorded before this one surfaced. For the student, a must.

Hi Paul, that's a pretty special bar.

Ahhh yes, the joy that abounded when I passed forward my Saxon Ribbon Bar collection is now tempered by frustration. The bottom line should remain my (Truly) Evil Twin?..... it's still one heck of a bar with some great and hard to find devices!!

Neat "Tuna Can" TWM! Enlisted guy for sure!

Nice thread with some excellent examples and documents of a cross we just don't see very much of...

Hi Michael, I think much better pictures/scans would be needed. but... it does look like some "classic" casting flaws/pock marks on the upper flat sections of the reverse.