Brian Wolfe

Hello Paul, Thanks for the suggestion. I never thought about those large flat containers, I'll check them out. I was wondering if the store where I buy my "top loaders" (for my photo postcards) might have something like them in poster size but have not had the chance to stop in. I have a map from 1919 showing Europe as it was after WWI and on the back is a day by day account of the war. I had it professionally framed with glass on both sides. It is very heavy and cost too much to start making a habit of that. Thanks again. I'll post my findings. Cheers Brian

Hello Everyone, I have purchased two maps of India, one from 1946 (pre-Independence) and one from 1997 of Independent India for comparison. I would like to know how other collectors store their maps as they are now folded and in time will suffer damage from the creasing. I am short on wall space so would the members suggest map tubes as a way of storage? Thanks for your opinions. Cheers Brian

Nice medals Darrell. I really like seeing what other collectors add to their collections. Cheers Brian

Thanks Uwe and Hugh for the information. I usually "hit" the net for information but this time I thought it was for some sort of alliance with another country so I never checked. Many thanks. Cheers Brian

Hi Rick, Yep, there are a few places left where the hunting is still pretty good. However, like everywhere it is getting pick over. Thanks and cheers Brian

Here's the reverse. Thanks again for any help you can give me. Cheers Brian

Here is a closer view of the obverse. Brian

Hello Everyone, I purchased this medal today and it was simply tagged as "French". The medal seems to be an older one struck from silver. On the obverse is the name "BRENET". There was a Frence artist named Nicolas-Guy Brenet, could this be one of his designs? On the rim's edge is the word "ARGENT" which I believe refers to "silver". The reverse has the words, "ALLIANCE FRANCAISE". I would be interested in knowing what the medal is, what it was awarded for and any other information that may be available. Any assistance you can give me is greatly appreciated. Cheers Brian

Here is the back of the mount. The pin has been broken off but it is an authentic group. Cheers Brian

Hello Everyone, I just got this in and wanted to show it off. Its a group of five ribbons with one having its medal. The group was awarded to: IB522059 PTR. R.KUMAR The group consists of: Special Service Medal (1986) Ed stated on SAGONGS that this would or could have had the Suraksha clasp, though no such clasp was ever on this ribbon. Op (Operation) Parakram Medal (2005) Sainya Seva Medal (1960) High Altitude Medal (1986) 50th Anniversary of Independence Medal (1997) The 50th Anniversay of Independence Medal is named which is not common. When it was mounted it was put up the wrong way around so the reverse is showing. The other thing I noticed is that the High Altitude Medal is cloth rather than the plasticised paper ribbon I've seen in the past. I am quite happy to be adding a group awarded to a paratrooper to my collection. Cheers Brian

I had to add this photo. It is of the Royal couple as they are leaving the train station in Kitchener, Ontario during their visit to Canada shortly after the Coronation. Cheers Brian

Here's the reverse. Princess Elizabeth is not seen very often on medals of any kind so I am quite fond of this small item in me collection. Cheers Brian

Wow is this thread ever going political quickly! I see myself as a colonial to the point of being an Empire Loyalist even though my family first came to Canada from the U.K. in 1799. The last arrived from Prussia in the early 1850s. Still, I missed the "slam" towards the British Empire completely in the past few posts. I do find it interesting that the term "native" can even be applied to the majority of people living in the U.K. as history tells me the original peoples have been displaced over and over again back to the dawn of written history. Here if I called myself a native I would be reminded that I am not a member of the First Nations (Indians for those who don't know better) and that I should not consider myself a "native". Even though my family predates Canada as a nation. I guess there is a history here on the forum that I don't need to know. To bad to spoil Darrell's post with this political sniping. Would it be out of line to ask that such "putting one in their place", so-to-speak, indeed be reserved to PMs? It really takes the pleasure out of posts like this. Thanks for letting me put in my two cents worth and I hope no one takes offence by this. As a way to make it up I am posting a little medal given out during the Coronation in 1937. What I liked about it the most is on the reverse. I hope you like it as much as I do. Cheers Brian

Here are the "reverse" sides of the medallions. You can see the spots of verdigris on the brozne medallion. I noticed that I can remove it, for the most part, with my finger nail. It's on my workbench for now until I get time this afternoon to tackel this problem. Cheers Brian

Here is my favourite side of the medallion, perhaps because as that was how Queen Victoria looked like to me when I was a kid. Just how old is this codger!!!!! You may be thinking. The government won't let you die until they get all of the taxes out of you that they can here in Canada. The silver medallion is in better condition than the photo shows and I left it in the package that the deasler stored it in as I have not had the time to get to the local coin dealer to purchase a proper holder. There was a box that these came in that I don't have but the dealer supplied a picture of one such box along with this medallion. He laminated the computer image so I've kept it with the medallion thinking that I will never be lucky enough to find an authentic one. Brian

Hi Ed, I know there is a tendency, on the part of some, to ignor the former "Empire" out side of the U.K. but the Dubar Medals are a part of any discussion regarding Coronation and Jubilee Medals. Who am I preaching to?! The only Coronation or Jubilee item I have other than what has been posted is a cased Bronze Medallion and a single silver small version. I have been told the larger cased bronze medallion was given to Senior Civil Servants and the smaller (25 cent coin sized) issue was for Junior Civil Servants. I have not verified this so don't take it as gospel and if anyone can add to my limited knowledge please do so. I noticed, it taking the bronze medallion out to photograph that ther eis some verdigris starting to appear that needs my attention. I hope you like my offering, and about those Dubar Medals Ed.... Cheers Brian

What a great collection! Thanks for posting such wonderful photos. Cheers Brian

Swordguy has nailed it on the head. All I would add is that you must be very careful when looking for a conservation "expert". There are many, even ones in local museums, who are far from qualified to conserve a fine blade. Some will "give it a go" at the expense of the artifact. Best to leave it alone. I find that a product named Conserver's Wax works very well, it's expensive but well worth the cost. Nice blades by the way. Cheers Brian

Hi Boris, That's a handy resource, thanks for posting it. Cheers Brian

The owner of the store purchsed this from a compant that either does or did produce full scale models. I believe he has also donated a German fighter (type?) to the Canadian Aeronautics Museum. Cheers Brian

Hi Peachy, That is a great photo. The spear shaft looks a little long for the traditional stabbing spear yet too short for a good throwing spear, though the blade looks correct. I am wondering if this was the best of both weapons combined into one spear by the owner. The Assegai is actually a shorter bladed throwing spear that is found throughout Africa, from what I have read on the subject. The short stabbing spear invented by Shaka Zulu is called an Iklwa. The name is derived from the sound the weapon makes as it enters the enemy's body (or exits, I can't recall which at the moment). Cheers Brian Here is an Assegi that came from South Africa by way of the U.K. to me. Because they are common throughout Africa I can only "hope" it is of Zulu origin as it would be hard to prove.

Here is the reverse, which is in English except for the motto at the top. Cheers Brian

Hello Everyone, A while ago I purchased this presentation memento of the Pakistan 45th Bn. Frontier Force Regiment also known as "The Piffers". In the early 1850s some Sikh regiments were designated the "Punjab Irregular Force" giving rise to the nickname "Piffer" which the regiment carries to the present day. The 45 FF was raised by Lt. Col. Muhammad Mohsin, 15 Feb. 1983 at Havelian. The Piffers are one of six infantry regiments in the modern Pakistan Army and the third oldest, after the Punjab and Baloch Regiments. The presentation piece measures 75 mm, is hollow and made of two pieces of sheet metal held in place by a metal ring. The Frontier Force symbol is on both sides and above the symbol are the words, "Here I Am", in Urdu, (thanks to "Conservator" from SAGONGS for the translation). Below are the words SAF SHIKAN, which, according to the dealer I purchased this item from, reads "Rows Breaker". I'm unclear of what that actually refers to so if anyone can help with that I would appreciate your input. Cheers Brian

Here's a view of the bottom of the casing. As I mentioned it is dated 1939. When I do occasionally purchase a new addition to the ordnance section of my collection I like to have the shell casing dated and if it is a date of any significance all the better. I hope you like my 2 pounder round. Cheers Brian

This is a view of the end of the round. As may be seen there is a hole in the end. Would this have produced a tracer effect when fired? I've seen other 40mm rounds that were flat on the bottom and I've also seen films of the two pounder in action and the shot that was fired was a tracer round. I would be interested in the membership's opinions. Brian