Stogieman

Hi Heiko! The "slippery slope" is the act of actually collecting Imperial Awards! Starting to collect Imperial is like taking a big step onto the icy side of a mountain..... once on the ice, it's a long slide down forever! You buy that first Imperial piece........ next thing you know, you need another, and another, and another...... kind of like Heroin and Tattoos, without as much social stigmatism ;>)

Haynau.... interesting wound medal ribbon with no stripes....... I have not seen this example before???

So what exactly is this piece? I am puzzled?

OK, I'm confused....... everybody keeps refering to this as Konteradmiral..... but Rick says he did not attain this rank??

Hi Daniel, pretty amazing mark on the side of that ?se!

Yep, we've had that argument a number of times........ I agree, on this one. Components might have been made in one run but not assembled until needed.

I am quite sure the seller does not have the second part. Nor is he aware that's what it is. I have done business with him before and he is very conscientious and proper at all times.

One sweet bar Claudio. One sweet bar!

I saw this today too... the really bizarre thing is that this loop appears to have been placed between the 2 pieces PRIOR to it being riveted together!? There's just a slight gap at the top seam where the 2 "wires" slip inside. Very strange, but very neat, clean and professional looking!

Also note that this is the silver medal.... not the more commonly seen bronze!

It's the top row of a double set. Note the KVK2 in second place? Not without an Honor Cross! The bar is deceiving due to the picture, but it's actually a half-height bar. Second Row is most likely: one additional order/decoration Honor Cross, Combattant Saxon LS, (probaby 2 LSM) Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria Comm. Medals. I know the guy selling it and the rest of his (crappy) pix shows a bar consistent in construction & style to others from the maker I have handked.

Especially when only one row of a ribbon bar pair hits the market!

Very nice. You are sliding ever deeper into the pool........... welcome! ;>)

Here's the reverse. Some mothing, but nothing critical and a nice bar with the swords spange!

Chris' photos were humongous! Here's his bar. Very nice!!

Hi Rusty... Talk to Rick research. he has an Epson. Easy to use and the best images I've ever seen from a flat-bed. Easy to use.

Yikes, no photo! Chris, you have my eMail. Send it to me!

Yes, I would agree... the early American History is also rife with all manner of brutal oppression of our fellow man. probably not a lot of "liquidation" orders hanging around and I think our ancesters were probably a little more forthright in expressing their displeasure...... can you just imagine a comparable document from Lexington in 1775? Samuel Hardy has been found guilty of "anti-American thought". One does not hear a lot about some of this dirt... it is there, but one has to dig a bit. i remember my early texts spoke more along the lines of "Tar & Feathering" and Riding them out of town on a rail sort of activity

I'll interject that even as an ex-patriot Saxon collector, this makes exactly three of these 3-piece AK's I have had a cjance to handle....... ever! Very, very hard to find cross!

And that my friends was just a wild stab into the night...... I could not read this if my life depended on it. But I did remember that there's a number of these earlier style badges that were made there and not at the mint!

I had a Storm TotalScan that I just replaced. I used to do the "empty" background too, with the lid up... what I found though was for some reason, it made huge (KB) scans. I now have a brand new HP "All in one"... takes nice pictures, etc. but it vibrates just enough to tilt a piece before the photo comes in. Very frustrating to work with.

A very sad, but unfortunately quite brutal reality of the early Soviet system. Sad. very sad.

I am happy to say I have confirmation. Now we simply sweat until it's here. I will have the "ScanMan" make nice pix of all the pages in the book!!

Jan, beautiful badge and nice to hear about someone getting a bargain! I think that's still possible and it is what keeps me searching! Gerd, I've been staring at Igor's SMERSH Group for a long time..... big money, but man... what a spectacular group! Rusty, I agree.... quality costs and unfortunately for me I have always been one of those 1 really good piece as opposed to a dozen in so-so condition. Groups are a whole other issue though... if it's there, and it's complete... well, that's another story in my eyes! Ed, I like the steeped in history thing as well........ but I still try to defer to quality, usually equally balanced with rarity/obscurity...... One rar, beat to heck by the owner item will always get my attention!! Thanks guys, I'm enjoying the discussion!

Yes, please Gentlemen.. let's keep bygones, bygones and leave all our collective baggage at the door please. Remember our aim is to try and have a truly civil exchange of details, information and study. Thanks!