Graf

closer view of the Soldier's Cross Graf

This is another rare "bird'" from this period -The 4-th Class of the Soldier's Cross It comes with a ribbon with swords and a Document. Again -No provenance, however nice Set Graf

Dear members, I would like to start this topic with a nice 1941 3-rd Class Order for Bravery In fact since no 1-st and 2-nd Classes were given during this period this Class is considered to be the "1st Class" I have seen pictures of this Order, from this period, mostly with Bulgarian Officers and more often with King Boris III. I aquired this 3-rd Class recently with a picture of German General. I do not know whether this is his Order, because there is no provenance to suppoti it. However, it is a nice Set anyway. It ia a real photo with a hand written "Stalingrad". Regards Graf

Hi, This is a closer view of the Police S, Boards Graf

Hi Guys, Here is a picture of my Collection of Bulgarian Shoulder Boards You can see the police ones with the insignia BDP The letters are interlocked. I do not have on my keyboard the Kirilic Alphabet Regards Graf

Hi Chris, I just noticed your comment. Thank you I am happy that i shared this EK1 with the other memebers from the club This will prevent them from buying similar forgeries Moral of the story is if not sure consult with people more experienced in the field I am glad that I joined the Club few months ago, I will advice any collector to do so. If you collect and not sharing with others, you are quite prone to make, sometimes costly, mistakes. Regards Graf

Hi Ben, That fact that The EK was unmarked and the core is Original was that lured me into buying it The pin looked a little bit different from the books, however i did not pay too much attention on this detail Also the very new look of the whole EK, a fact which nowdays triggers a question abouth the originality. I believed that, at that time, if the dealer was registered evrything was OK Now, when you say that it might be a core from a "butchered' EK2 with a round 3 I realise how easy could be to trick unexperienced novice in the field. Your opinion was shared with another member on different forum, which i started few days ago, regarding the EK1 with round 3 and EK1 Schinkel Type Regards Graf

Hi Ben, Thank you for the advice I will give a try I will wait for moremembers to respond to my listing as well I trust your opinion, however one or two more confirming opinions from some of the senior members will be quite supportive for me For your information the amount involved is 500$ Regards Graf

I agree with you Ben. The fact is that I have the EK and he has my money, therefore the problem is mine He is a registered Dealer here in Australia.. He will not accept that EK is not an original unless I have a certificate by someone who is an "expert" in the field Regards Graf

Hi guys, Just an update for the EK1 with a round 3 I contacted the dealer and asked him the buy it back. He refused claiming that the EK1 in his opinion is ORIGINAL and also that because I bought it more then 4 years ago he is not liable any more. I do not have a heart to pass it to unsuspecting novice as original, therefore i have to keep it in the drawer with other repros. Regards Graf

Hi Ben, Thank yo ufor the comments It is interisting, because I was pazzled with the fact that the core is original and the frame looks new There is no any Maker mark on the frame -the EK is unmarked It is a bad news for me however a good news for collectors ..they can see what is in the market at tne moment Regards Graf

one more

now --reverse view

more pics

Hi guys, I listed this EK1 in another forum I will list it here for good or bad If it is Original is GOOD if it is a fake it is BAD Regards Graf

One more on the back Graf

Hi, more pics of EK with round 3

Hi Jim, Thank you for the advice I got these two "rare' birds long before I was a member I was tricked into buying them only because I saw similar ones sold on "reputable" dealers sites for much more then I paid at the time Later on i found out that some deales knowingly or not sell repros as originals. I will post pictures if i decide to buy new 1939 EKs I like the the Club because i can share information with other memebers ..and get advice as well. Regards Graf

Hi Jim, Thank you for the mail. Well.... both are mine and i have to keep them since i bought them over 5-6 years ago, the period when i started collecting. I am not surprised about the Schinkel EK I have suspected it all the time. Well, the dealer is gone He is the one who sold me the 4th Class of the Germa Eagle, which I also suspedt that it is a good fake I Regarding the Round 3 Ek I am a little bit upset, because I did hope that it could be an original one. Why did the bother to use Original core with a new frame. What has happened with the original frame? It is soldered very nicely and there is no signg for resoldering or tempering.of the frame or the pin .. only the pin is assembled in a wrong way,,however I have seen this with originals from well known makers. I will put all of them in my "experience" drawer with few more things i bought during this novice period.That is a period with minefields for any beginer. All dodgy dealers like to pray on them. I can reassure you that I have not spent I fortune for them and at that time I believed that I had the bargain of the century. I keep away from 1939 EKs ,unless the dealer is with a very good reputation and the EK is very well known Kind regards Graf

Hi JP. Thank you for your reply. I have few orders -lower classes by Wolfers all are not marked, however they are well known Wolfers I also have few miniature by Wolfers -also unmarked, but identified as Wolfers. You correctly picked-up the period of the Plaque -it is 1920-1930 GO breast Star by Wolfers (identified by few experct including Guy) It is listed in the Leopold Order forum It is interisting fact, because Wolfers was one of the best maker at his time and never bothered to mark the lower classes. It let the quality to speak for itself Regards Graf

Hi James, Yes i believe the light can make a difference. Here are mine medals at closer view Upper Raw -Bilingual Lower Raw French only Regards Graf

Hi there, I have seen Wolfers Mark only on Grand Cross and Grand Officer Breast Badges I have few lower classes Orders made by Wolfers, however they are not marked Can someone list a picture of Wolfers maker mark Regards Graf

Hi James, You are right ..only this clear cover is a pazzle I assume someone has put it to preserve the Medal Also, the Bronze is a little bit different from the Bronze medals I have or I have had This could be because of the metal the maker has used....or perhaps different light you used It is a very nice piece anyway I had a hold of few Bronze medals including some of the Order of the Lion One of them (French made) you can see on the internet site of the Museum in Brussel The Bronze medal has a bigger crown than normal This is not the exact medal I had, however it is exactly the same type. I sold them to a friend collector from Belgium, because i believed he will appriciate them more then me. I might regret later on, however it was my choice at the time. Collecting is a funny thing You sell or swap an item then you start thinking whether you did the right thing That is life. Regards Graf

Hi Jef, In my opinoin, looking the picture, it appear that the Bronze is a Real one. You are right to look the medal from all aspects. If it is a worn Gold medal, in some shielded places it will be still trace of gold cover. No doubt about that. Thaths how I descarded my worn Gold medals as a Bronze. I found traces of Gold Cheer up. Regards Graf

Hi TacHel, Thank you for the comments. Hi Gldank, It looks Bronze. The problem is, as I stated earlier -only the picture is not good enough. It is a little bit a question this clear covering of your medal.l Ussually they do not have such one. Also i can see traces of Gold, if i am not mistaken, on the middle of the crown, and also the medal looks like worn Gold to me. However, again only from the picture it is difficult to judge.Sorry for my comment if it has offended you in any way. This is just my humble opinion from what I can see on the picture. I might be wrong. Cheer up! I bought few Worn Gold ones which I believed that were Bronze till i got my first real Bronze. I sold all of my worn Gold Medals -offcourse as Gold I decided to restrict myself to just to get the full Set and not to try to get different makers or Variations I also collect the Luxury Versions of the Miniatures. Excluding the Bronze medals, it is relatively not difficult task. I focused my Belgium Collection on the Order of Leopold1 - it is a very unique one with all Variations and Divisions. It is so complex Order that a lifelong time will be not enough to get all of them Regards Graf