Stogieman

Well, on metal/glass Windex works pretty good at removing scotch tape residue and glue/decals, etc. But I don't think that's going to work on paper. Nice doc BTW, tough to find one!

Very ambitious Ed!

Tell me more about the one with the rectangle suspension and the enamel star please!

I believe these are all made in China. The market was absolutely flooded with this all within the last 5 years.

Hi Chris. That's a very special bar with much, well-earned character. I like it very much!

Looks like a nice original bar with a nice issue EAK2. I don't see anything wrong here.

Just a quick note here........ Plenty of GI's looted and just as many did not. I had 5 Great Uncles in Europe from 1942 through 1957. Not one of them brought home anything more than a postcard and 4 "war orphans" adopted as their own. What they shipped home were Hummels and Mepps Lures and the occassional beer Stein. All paid for in cash. I cringe when I hear the one who adopted the kids talk about the PPK/holster/belt he traded away for some single malt scotch............. I'm sure that there were no shortage of willing participants in the occupations/annexations but I am also just as sure that there were a tremendous number of people opposed. Let's be careful to not let this degenerate into a political discussion please. Thanks!

Nope........ No colonial service campaign medals. So no colonial service. I think the FAM,SSHM & EKwX are all WW1. He might have received that 15 in 1919/20. Maybe. I don't remember when Friedrich-August von Sachsen abdicated. Like I said, very puzzling bar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And entirely possible for a Navy-Rat to have served in both theatres. On a boat, other than campaign medals, many of these guys received a GCM and that was it.

And a good guess. But this is quite an impressive rack of combat decorations for our long-serving NCO! Now, real fast........ how many 15 Year "Other Ranks" Saxon Long Service Crosses have you seen?

I like to delude myself into thinking we make a difference in fighting these clowns....... but today I get an eMail and photographs (unsolicited) from a guy in Germany offering to sell me about 300 WW2 era ribbon bar blanks. All 4-8 place, pre-drilled and ready to have "old stock" ribbon mounted up. Makes you wonder.

Well, I say the abreviation stands for: "5 1/2 Seconds Grenade Yes Boom"

And the reverse: (sorry for crappy photos. This was a parts box piece that I didn't think to scan!)

I sold one last week that was in pretty good shape. It went on eBay for under $20! Go figure. Anyway, it was in astoundingly good condition!

Agreed, very bad news. Be vewy, vewy cawefull.

Hi Lee, the Observer Air Crew Badge was absolutely made right until the bitter end. That would go for the other Imperial Aviation Badges as well however I would submite that by 1940 the demand would have been limited at best. As an example, here's the first badge in full-size, made by F?rster in Wien ca. 1935-45. Note the atypical catch/hinge/pin of this maker as seen on their WW2 badges. This badge is available on our Sales Forum. <p>

Yep. Chris' bar wins "Fugly of the week"!

Hi Chuck. You have under-described the quality of the piece.... it's beautiful!

Bumping this up. Nobody wants to venture a discussion on this beautiful bar?? No supposition? No brainstorms? why, why, why?? (OK, so I'm weird and I like to know "what" and "why" on equal terms!) The bar is fine, but very mysterious!

And unfortunately, I cannot say I grabbed it for you. What a stunning cross this was and easily the BEST piece on this week's update. Yes, better than the RK w. Oaks. You want rarity gentleman, here it was. Just like last Weeks Osmani Order Set & docs that I did manage to grab........ each week, there's always one exceptional item, If you can find it.

Sweet Bar Chet, moths and all. I never find anything in shops anymore............... Good for you!

Hi Ed, yes, the full Turkish Award document was also enclosed. very heavy paper with magnificent scripting but very much afraid to fully open it and lay it flat........ I think it's been folded since 1917!

I'd agree. Anytime there's a decent piece of phaleristic study......... the topic at hand gets very expensive once people figure out what is what. Mongolian is exciting to me and I've bought a bunch of badges and odds and ends, but I have been advised I need to "focus".......... so I'll keep the boxed pieces and the one early order I found. And the Partisan badge/Booklet. But I guess the rest I'll let go. There's now 2 guys in UlanBaatar selling on eBay. Their english is excellent. One guy I've received 2 packages from. First one arrived open...... stuff literally spilling on the floor at my PO. Second one he did tape shut, but bubble pack's paper cover was shredded when it arrived here! Nothing was missing from either package. Second seller's package still has not arrived, one month later.

Hi John, yes, I believe it was. The "retired" pilot badge was a war-time piece to distinguish between flying/non-flying. An interesting aside........ You will see lots of WW2 photographs with Luftwaffe personnel wearing a retired PB, an Observer B, but I can't think of one I have seen with an actual WW1 PB on!?!?!?

OK, trying again! Sorry!