Stogieman

Hi Mike looks like a perfect (authentic) First Class Cross with swords and especially nice with the box! 1.kl. it says 3a, as opposed to the second class, 3b. With respects to the abbreviations, see the topic pinned at the top of Imperial "Common abreviations.." Nice cross!

OK, it's hard to see in the scan, but if you look very closely, you will see a small flat bar across the bottom of the Liaket spange. My best guess is this was done to prevent the TWM next to it from snagging/tearing at the spange as the TWM is (and has been) on and off the bar often enough to have been repaired at least once. The current pin is there (vertical safety pin soldered on!!) but the catch has long since been snapped off. The thing I cannot figure out with this one is when/why he would sometimes wear it on a pocket and sometimes on the bar!!

Hi Chris, an astounding example of an extremely hard to find piece. The "history" is icing on the cake. Just wonderful! Can you post the "C" & document too please?

I have seen a tremendous amount of "WW2" badges (starting this year) that were absolute rubbish but have had a nasty glob of solder dropped onto the swastika. The extremes some of these people go to to defraud a collector never ceases to amaze me!

I've never seen a documented example of this. Nor have I ever seen a medal bar with the '39 spange on a NC-14EK2 that would have been logical in any sense of the word. Neithor have I ever seen a '14NC paired with a '39EK2... I have however seen ribbon bars with an NC'14EK2 paired up with some interesting things like a KVK2wX/East Medal..... but again, no documentation of the awards.

Hi Ralph! As always, your photos and pieces look wonderful. I especially like the bigger bar with the 6 spanges esthetically mounted.

Nice bar WildCard and looks like a very proper early mounting!

Mine is interesting in that the 2 mentioned pieces (KVK2ns,MKVK) are mounted with a pile of WW1 combat awards... I would have loved to have seen documents to this fellow!

On eBay right now:

PS: Paul, last ribbon on Jason's Bar is a somewhat faded Tyrol Service Medal

3 Wounds, not 4...... cannot count the edge stripes on Jason's ribbon bar, only the center. Best guess is Signum Laudis in Bronze

I have one with both the KVK, no swords, and the KVM! I think maybe the third like that I've seen until today!

Hi Chuck, no apologies needed and no offense taken anywhere, I am sure! RR is just an extremely avid afficiando of this award! I've seen two of these stars in the last 3 months made in german silver with enameled blue centers!

Hi Chet, one just does not find these pre-1870 document sets very often anymore. Superb!

PS: The cross was made 1870/71, 1876, there's a bar for 1914..... then remade 1914, 1914-17, 1917 Good luck catching all the date variations! ;>)

It tends more into the realm of red/shocking pink side......... The cross is the Hessian Milit?r=Sanit?ts=Kreuz... The Medal is the Hessian Ehrenzeichen f?r Kriegsf?rsorge

I'm thinking someone's a wee stressed out over this!

Well, speaking of Turkish....... this little gem has a real (German) silver Liaket Medal with the nicest Saber/Date Bar I've ever seen.... overshadowed by it's neighbor, unfortunately....

Hi Chuck, you have not truly lived until you've seen the 9 day "bated breath of anticipation".... followed by the 12 day tantrum, followed by the 9 day sulk when he loses out on one of these......

Be careful Chuck.......... we usually have to sedate Mr. research after one of these Tamara discussions!

And the reverse:

His second lot

Reverse of lot 1

Durodont has been selling questionable ribbon bars as well as our "usual suspect"...... he has added a new twist! He's now showing the backs! You be the judge.

Finnish award for Superior Pretzel Baking"