Trooper_D

For comparison, here's one (on an Officer ribbon) I won on the 'Bay, recently. Apologies for the quality of the scan - I don't own an Epson I note that the connector to the suspension ring (technical term?) is rather inferior to the ones shown so far (being flat rather than rounded). There are no marks as far as I can see. I welcome all comments but if it is a fake, please break it to me gently (actually, it wasn't so expensive) http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_11_2013/post-13362-0-87293400-1383564214.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_11_2013/post-13362-0-46492400-1383564717.jpg

... and that really is something to look forward to!! Thanks for your postings so far - exquisite uniforms, sabrigade.

De Bange - what a wonderfully appropriate (and onomatopoeic) name for an artillery piece

Nice dating evidence!

Very interesting, thank you. I look forward the the rest of your photos. Can you explain me the significance of the chevrons on the arm of Lt Bartos' tunic, please?

Markgraf IrishGunner might and I certainly would!

What Valter said x 2. These are wonderful insights into a very interesting area of study, Tifes. Thank you to you and the other contributors to this fascinating thread.

Spolei Don't worry about your English - this was a fascinating story and deserved the wider telling you have given it. Many thanks.

Spolei Do we know (a) why a coin was given, rather than a medal, and (b) why the recipient was entited to wear it like a medal? Was it issued to all those who were entitled to a Jubilee medal or did it have a wider circulation? Sorry for all these questions but this seems like an interesting anomaly.

Now that's thinking strategically Congrats on winning the photos btw.

IrishGunner I think the photo below (from http://www.indiannet.eu/home_resistance/gbpart4.html) confirms the attribution of your first photo. It is of a Czech artillery lieutenant called Rudolf Pernický and is dated to 1938. Although it is an officer's uniform, note the buttons with the crossed swords and the same shaped collar and collar tabs. What I have discovered in all this is that images on the Internet of inter-war years Czech soldiers appear to be as rare as hens' teeth!

Slightly more useful than my last answer, post #30 on the page I've linked to shows the 'crossed swords' button shown in the first photo and identifies them as Czech, without giving a date: http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/what/247799-old-metal-buttons-2.html.

IrishGunner The sign in the second photo says 'Happy Christmas 1925' in Czech, so the answer to the question posed in your thread title is, yes. I suspect you knew that already and are actually after a unit identification - which I can offer no help with - but I thought I would score the easy points before anyone else :)

Wonderful - the icing on a very calorie-rich cake!!

Adler Reading each of your posts makes me more and more interested in pickelhaubes than I feel comfortable with. It's like I am being sucked into a compulsion that I will be unable to control - this latest missive about this beautiful helm may just be the straw that breaks the camel's back Please, no more!! [in short: I love it!]

Worthpoint reports that a similar badge, but with the red and white colours reversed, was sold on eBay in 2007. It was described as a "Homefront Royal Army Chaplain's Dept breast star" made by Agnew. http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/homefront-royal-army-chaplains-dept-breast-star

Chris It looks to be an Eisernes Verdienstkreuz, which is discussed in this thread, http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/15471-my-first-eisernes-verdienstkreuz/ As this was given to ORs only, the rank must be for a Korporal, as shown here (and as opposed to an Oberleutnant, which I find confusingly similar; fortunately as it is an OR award, the possibility is removed), http://www.austro-hungarian-army.co.uk/badges/badges.htm GMICers more learned than me will comment on the remainder of your queries. I hope that is of some help Trooper D

Spotted! Thanks for this fascinating information.

Au contraire! I am sure that I am not the only one who is - almost - lost for words at seeing such a wonderful example. I do have one question, however. You mention the distinctive nature of the 'rear spine vent'. I am having some difficulty understanding exactly what this is and where it is located so some clarification would be most welcome. Thank you in advance.

To be fair to Bolivia, the Australian wretch, to whom you indirectly allude, is actually holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy. Same difference, though

Many thanks for this brief but revealing exposition. Once again, it is a reminder that we mustn't think in terms of rigid boundaries when discussing the medieval world - trade links were much more extensive over a wider geographic area than one might readily assume. God speed to 'whoever' might be writing the book. I, for one, look forward to it (but the website is a good substitute in the interim).

How, in Heaven's name, would they have found their way this far south?? Does the medieval one have an armourer's mark, on it, as a matter of interest? Has anyone written the definitive work on these swords - or are you still completing the final chapter?

Thanks for your fascinating answer, ISPN. I never even realised this was a field of study but am now looking forward to seeing more of your photos to learn more!

I second Brian in thanking you for showing us these wonderful swords. I have a question: although they look beautiful, to my eye they don't look very robust so my question is, how effective do you judge one of these swords would have been in combat or were they more about 'display' and ceremony?

Pleasure!